Property Management Industry “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services” and “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management” Codes of Conduct to be Gazetted Tomorrow
The Codes of Conduct entitled “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services” and “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management” issued by the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) pursuant to Section 5(1) of the Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) will be gazetted and will take effect tomorrow. The respective Best Practice Guides have also been prepared to provide practical guidance for the property management (PM) industry on handling outsourced PM services as well as staff recruitment and management matters.
“Handling Outsourced Property Management Services” Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct aims to ensure effective provision of PM services by licensed property management companies (PMCs) together with their subcontractors or service providers (service contractors). The Code of Conduct covers the following aspects:
- Selection of service contractors;
- Preparing tender documents and making contract with service contractors;
- Monitoring service contractors;
- Appropriate follow-up work;
- Maintaining good working relationship with service contractors;
- Handling payments to service contractors; and
- Keeping record.
Chairperson of the PMSA Dr James WONG said, “When providing PM services to properties, a licensed PMC may outsource any or all of its PM services to other service contractors. PMCs and their service contractors work as key partners in ensuring the delivery of quality and professional PM services. The “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services” Code of Conduct and its respective Best Practice Guide formulated by the PMSA have provided comprehensive and practical guidance on outsourcing PM services in order to support PMCs, service contractors and occupants in strengthening their cooperation and establishing reasonable expectations to ensure effective delivery of PM services and a good working relationship between all the parties concerned.”
“Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management” Code of Conduct
This Code of Conduct aims to prevent corruption when staff members directly employed and managed by licensed PMCs or by their service contractors carry out PM duties. The Code of Conduct covers the following aspects:
- Establishing a mechanism for handling staff employment and management;
- Designating person(s) responsible for supervising or handling staff recruitment matters;
- Formulating the basic entry requirements for staff of various ranks;
- Recruitment procedures and assessment framework;
- Staff attendance and supervision;
- Disbursement of wages;
- Staff appraisal; and
- Disciplinary action / termination of staff employment.
Chairperson WONG said, “When a licensed PMC employs staff directly to carry out its regular PM duties, or through staff engaged by service contractor appointed, or through appointment of service contractor on behalf of the owners’ organisation and is responsible for monitoring the performance of the service contractor, the PMC should make reference to the relevant legislation in order to prevent corruption. The “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management” Code of Conduct and its respective Best Practice Guide aim to support PMCs in formulating staff recruitment procedures in order to raise the professional and integrity standard of the industry.”
Since the implementation of the PM industry licensing regime, the PMSA has already issued a total of 14 Codes of Conduct and their relevant Best Practice Guides, 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” and “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works”.
The above Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides can be downloaded from the following PMSA webpage:
https://www.pmsa.org.hk/en/regulatory/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:
- Arboriculture/Horticulture Management;
- Slope Management;
- Distribution and Display of Promotional Materials;
- Fire Installations Management;
- Clubhouse Facilities Management;
- Drinking Water Facilities Management;
- Handling Canopy Works;
- Obligations of Property Management Companies under the Building Management Ordinance; and
- Handling Instrument of Appointing a Proxy.
Ends/Thursday, 27 April 2023
Issued at HKT 17:00
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