Gov proposes to statutory accountability to property management companies

發佈日期: 2026-01-15 20:47

TVB News

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The government is proposing to introduce statutory duties to property management companies to make them by law the gatekeepers of fire safety in buildings.

The property management industry says it is discussing with the Fire Services Department ways to implement the policy.

The tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court in Tai Po, has spotlighted fire safety issues of buildings in Hong Kong.

In its wake, the government proposes to make property management companies statutorily accountable in building fire protection measures.

Companies need to seek the approval of the Fire Services Department if they want to shut down fire fighting equipment, when such needs arise during construction works.

Considerations too in introducing fixed fines for fire-related offences such as obstructing fire escapes. 

The property management industry welcomed the government's suggestions, saying that the sector had been in talks with the Fire Services Department over ways to implement the policies.

Johnnie Chan, the spokesperson of the Hong Kong Association of Property Management Companies, says the fixed penalty on fire safety-related offences could be akin to 
issuing ticketing fines to traffic offences -- so when you break the law, a fixed penalty will be issued with no prior warning.

Offenders will also have to carry out repair and maintenance work immediately.

The government also plans to amend the Building Management Ordinance to require owners' corporation to require more votes in person on construction projects or expenditures - with higher thresholds of "authorised votes."

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak says on a radio programme that the owners should be more involved in the approval of renovation projects as well, instead of raising issues after the projects are greenlit.

In response to the feedback from some owners' corporations that the overly high threshold could make it difficult to proceed with projects, Mak says that the government was willing to discuss with the community whether certain measures should be further tightened. They include requiring witnesses to be present when signing off authorisation votes.