Property Management Services Authority Formulates “Slope Management Work” Code of Conduct
The Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) announced today that the Code of Conduct entitled “Slope Management Work” to be issued pursuant to Section 5(1) of the Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) would be gazetted within this month. The respective Best Practice Guide has also been prepared. The Code and Guide provide practical guidance for licensed property management companies (PMCs) and property management practitioners (PMPs) on the management responsibilities in respect of slopes related to properties, the management measures and maintenance requirements for man-made slopes and retaining walls, maintenance requirements in respect of natural terrain hazard mitigation measures, complying with dangerous hillside order / buried services investigation order, monitoring service contractors and keeping related record, as well as proper notification and follow-up work.
Dr James Wong, Chairperson of the PMSA, said, “A licensed PMC may often, in respect of clients’ property for which property management (PM) services are provided by it, manage private slopes which are related to the property. Lease document issued by the Lands Department also stipulates that the concerned owners are responsible for the maintenance of adjoining slopes and natural terrain. Therefore, after consulting various stakeholders, the PMSA has prepared the ‘Slope Management Work’ Code of Conduct and the respective Best Practice Guide in order to raise the industry’s awareness in respect of regular maintenance and repair of slopes related to properties, thereby safeguarding that these slopes are kept in good condition and thus protecting the safety of property users.”
The PMSA has formulated the Code of Conduct and the respective Best Practice Guide with reference to relevant legislation and codes, including the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123), the Occupiers Liability Ordinance (Cap. 314), the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) and the “Geoguide 5 – Guide to Slope Maintenance” issued by the Geotechnical Engineering Office, and in consultation with the PM industry, recognised professional bodies, owners’ organisations, and relevant Government departments including the Home Affairs Department, the Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and the Buildings Department, etc., and has appropriately reflected the feedback obtained from the consultation in the Code and Guide.
In addition to formulating the above Code and Guide, the PMSA will also organise a Continuing Professional Development Seminar for the industry next month and invite representative from the CEDD as guest speaker to share with the industry on the subject of slope safety and maintenance.
Besides the aforementioned Code and Guide, the PMSA has already issued a total of 22 Codes of Conduct and relevant Best Practice Guides regarding various other PM aspects, including “General Code of Conduct”, “Complaint Handling Mechanism of Property Management Companies”, “Effective Control over Property Management Business by Property Management Companies”, “Handling Moneys Received on behalf of Clients by Property Management Companies”, “Obligations of Property Management Companies regarding the Ending of their Appointment”, “Prevention of Corruption”, “Prescribed Conditions on Licences”, “Protection on Personal Data”, “Handling Payment for or Arranging Payment to be Made by Clients”, “Provision of Prescribed Information and Financial Documents to Clients”, “Carrying out Procurement for Clients and Prevention of Bid-rigging”, “Handling Emergencies”, “Handling Scaffolding Works”, “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works”, “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services”, “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management”, “Distribution and Display of Promotional Material”, “Tree Management Work”, “Obligations of Property Management Company under the Building Management Ordinance”, “Handling Building Works”, “Handling Instrument of Appointing a Proxy” and “Handling Fire Safety Work”.
The above Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides can be downloaded from the PMSA webpage: https://www.pmsa.org.hk/en/regulatory-framework/codes-of-conduct
The PMSA will continue to issue other Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides timely, covering different PM areas in order to provide guidance to the industry, including but not limited to the following:
• Handling Drainage Work;
• Handling Residential Noise Issues;
• Clubhouse Facilities Management;
• Drinking Water Facilities Management; and
• Handling Canopy Work.
