Property Management Industry Codes of Conduct “Distribution and Display of Promotional Material”, “Tree Management Work”, “Handling Scaffolding Works” (Revised) and “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works” (Revised) to be Gazetted Tomorrow

Chairperson of the PMSA Dr James WONG said, “Planting trees on the common parts of a property not only provides a comfortable living environment for residents, it also helps increase the value of the property. However, failure in assessing the potential risk of planting trees and implement necessary mitigation measures in timely manner especially during typhoon season may very likely result in serious injury or damage to properties. The “Tree Management Work” Code of Conduct provides practical guidance for the PM industry to assist and remind owners in respect of proper management and maintenance of trees so as to enhance tree safety.”

The respective Best Practice Guides for the two Codes of Conduct “Distribution and Display of Promotional Material” and “Tree Management Work” have also been prepared to provide practical guidance for the PM industry to better comply with the Code. The PMSA has formulated the two Codes of Conduct and their respective Best Practice Guides in consultation with the PM industry, owners’ organisations, the Home Affairs Department and the Tree Management Office of the Development Bureau and has appropriately reflected the feedback received from the consultation in the Codes and Guides so that the content is more comprehensive, pragmatic and suitable for the use of the industry.

“Handling Scaffolding Works” and “Handling Suspended Platform Works” Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides (Revised Editions)

The “Handling Scaffolding Works” and “Handling Suspended Platform Works” Codes and Guides issued earlier by the PMSA have cited relevant provisions in the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59) and the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance (Cap. 509) to provide practical guidance to licensees on handling scaffolding and suspended platform works. In response to the amendments made on 28 April 2023 in respect of the two ordinances concerning the provisions on penalties, the PMSA has updated the relevant provisions in the annexes of the relevant Codes and Guides.

Since the implementation of the PM industry licensing regime, the PMSA has already issued a total of 16 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”, “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works”, “Handling Outsourced Property Management Services” and “Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management”.

The two new and the two revised Codes of Conduct / Best Practice Guides aforementioned can be downloaded from the 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