Building management law review opens for consultation
SingTao · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The government began a one-month public consultation on August 12 on proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance, covering five main areas including higher thresholds for major repair and large procurement decisions, and tighter rules for proxy instruments. Lawmakers Tang Ka-piu and Ip Ngo-tung said the direction of the proposals is broadly acceptable, but stressed the need to prevent disputes and forgery without making routine building management too difficult to run.
Key Points
- The consultation proposes raising attendance and voting thresholds for major repair works and large procurement decisions, with a new in-person voting requirement for “Category 2” large procurements
- Under the proposal, “Category 2” large procurements would require at least 5% of owners or 100 owners to vote in person before a decision is valid
- The government also proposes a tiered system for attendance and in-person voting thresholds in major repair procurement, with reference amounts of HK$30,000, HK$80,000 and HK$120,000
- Tang Ka-piu, chairman of LegCo’s Panel on Home Affairs, Culture and Sports, said stricter rules are justified for major works, but ordinary owners’ corporation business may need more flexible arrangements.
- Ip Ngo-tung said he is more concerned about verifying whether proxy forms are genuine, noting proposals for signatures, declarations, identity checks and submission at least 96 hours before meetings.
Why It Matters
The proposed changes go to the heart of how owners’ corporations approve costly repairs and procurement, an area that often affects maintenance quality, meeting legitimacy and disputes among owners. The consultation is also likely to draw close attention from older districts and lower-density estates, where proxy use and project costs can create different practical pressures