Civil Service Newsletter Issue 119

The spirit of “We Care We Serve” in building management

Home Affairs Department

With the growing emphasis on private building management in the community, there has been an ever-increasing demand for relevant services. At present, many private buildings across various districts in Hong Kong require their owners to make arrangements in different areas, including daily management, maintenance, accounting, legal matters, insurance and security. However, owners often encounter difficulties in handling building management matters due to a lack of expertise. In addition to its dedicated division, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) also sets up District Building Management Liaison Teams under the 18 District Offices (DOs) in Hong Kong to perform duties related to building management, handle relevant enquiries and complaints, and assist owners’ corporations (OCs) and owners in handling building management-related disputes.

On building management, the Government has been playing the role as a facilitator through multi-pronged measures to assist owners in forming suitable organisations such as OCs and provide appropriate support to help owners discharge their building management responsibilities. Currently, the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) (the Ordinance) provides a legal framework for the management of buildings as well as the formation of OCs by owners and operation of OCs. Owners may discuss various building management matters at the general meetings of the OCs which are convened and conducted in accordance with the Ordinance, and any decision made at such meetings shall be binding on all owners.

DOs organised seminars to share with owners’ corporations, property management companies and other stakeholders of private buildings the latest information on building management, such as key provisions of the Building Management (Amendment) Ordinance 2024, and information about corruption prevention and fire safety precautions.

Take Wong Tai Sin District as an example. Wong Tai Sin District Office (WTSDO) previously received views from the local residents indicating that drivers had been found repeatedly driving in the opposite direction of the traffic on a driveway in a private housing estate, and they were worried that this might put other road users in danger. However, they did not know how to tackle it as they were not sure about the responsible party for the driveway and specific traffic improvement measures to be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents. Soon after learning about the concerns of the local residents, WTSDO liaised with the Transport Department, and Link which managed the carpark of the housing estate, and also conducted a site visit with the OC and property management company of the housing estate in order to formulate improvement measures. With WTSDO’s active co-ordination and full co-operation among various parties, Link has implemented a series of improvement measures, including putting up a “one-way traffic” sign and providing a speed bump on the driveway. The problem of driving in opposite direction of the traffic was duly solved as a result. In this case, the building management team of WTSDO strived to act as a bridge of communication among the OC as well as the relevant departments and organisations, and with co-ordinated efforts of different parties involved, the management and safety issues of private buildings in the district were effectively resolved.

With WTSDO’s active co-ordination and full co-operation among various parties, Link has put up a “one-way traffic” sign and provided a speed bump on the driveway to effectively tackle the problem of driving in the opposite direction of the traffic.

The Building Management Liaison Teams of DOs maintain close liaison with owners’ corporations and property management companies in the districts to address building management matters.

Furthermore, whenever owners hold different views on building management issues, the building management teams of DOs endeavour to provide assistance and mediate disputes by, inter alia, seeking common grounds for owners with differing views, reminding OCs of the legal requirements about tender procedures, and assisting OCs in holding meetings to reach a consensus on the relevant arrangements. HAD also provides a wide array of building management support services for application by owners or OCs in need, including Free Legal Advice Service on Building Management, Free Mediation Service Scheme for Building Management, Building Management Dispute Resolution Service, Panel of Advisors on Building Management Disputes, Owners’ Corporations Advisory Services Scheme, etc.

Building management is closely related to the daily life of the general public. Our DO colleagues, where necessary, attend general meetings of different housing estates at night or during weekends as necessary, and patiently help residents deal with their problems. Whenever a building management issue is duly resolved, or owners with diverging views reach a consensus, our colleagues feel a great sense of satisfaction. HAD and DOs will continue to uphold the spirit of “We Care We Serve” and provide appropriate assistance for owners and OCs, with a view to creating a better living environment together.