7
THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1994
4.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES SHOULD KEEP TO THE SIDES OF THE AUCTION HALL DURING THE PROCEEDINGS AND SHOULD NOT SEEK INTERVIEWS OF THE AUCTIONEER, BIDDERS OR OTHERS BEFORE THE PROCEEDINGS HAVE
CONCLUDED.
5.
THERE SHOULD BE NO MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AUCTION HALL DURING
THE PROCEEDINGS.
6. ANY PERSON ATTENDING THE AUCTION WHO FAILS TO COMPLY WITH ANY DIRECTIONS GIVEN BY THE AUCTIONEER MAY BE EXCLUDED FROM THE AUCTION HALL.
7.
THE AUCTIONEER SHALL REGULATE THE BIDDING. THE AUCTIONEER MAY REFUSE TO ACCEPT ANY BID AND NO PERSON SHALL AT ANY BID ADVANCE LESS THAN THE AMOUNT FIXED FOR THAT PURPOSE BY THE AUCTIONEER.
8.
IN THE EVENT THAT ANY DISPUTE ARISES, WHETHER BETWEEN TWO OR MORE BIDDERS OR OTHERWISE, AS TO ANY BID, THE AUCTIONEER MAY AT HIS DISCRETION FORTHWITH DETERMINE THE DISPUTE OR AGAIN PUT UP THE LOT FOR SALE AT THE LAST UNDISPUTED BID, OR WITHDRAW THE LOT FROM SALE.
9.
THE AUCTIONEER MAY STOP THE BIDDING, WITHDRAW ANY LOT FROM AUCTION OR STOP THE AUCTION ALTOGETHER IF, IN HIS OPINION, MOVEMENT ABOUT THE AUCTION HALL OR OTHER ACTIVITY IS AFFECTING THE CONDUCT OF THE PROCEEDINGS.
IN ITS INTERIM REPORT, THE PANEL SAID MEMBERS HAD CONTACTED A RANGE OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING ARCHITECTS, SURVEYORS, LAWYERS, AUCTIONEERS, DEVELOPERS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ON AN INFORMAL BASIS TO SOLICIT THEIR VIEWS.
THE PANEL NOTED THAT THE HONG KONG SYSTEM OF SELLING LAND BY AUCTION WAS REGARDED BY OTHER TERRITORIES AS A SUCCESSFUL METHOD OF LAND DISPOSAL, AND FELT THAT IT SHOULD BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT RECOMMENDING DRASTIC CHANGES IN RESPONSE TO ONE PARTICULAR OCCURRENCE WITHOUT GIVING FURTHER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
"THE PANEL RECOGNISES THAT, GIVEN THE SIZE, COMPLEXITY AND COST OF MANY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, THERE IS A LEGITIMATE ROLE FOR JOINT VENTURES OR CONSORTIA.
THE SAME TIME, THERE IS A NEED TO ENSURE FAIR AND GENUINE COMPETITION IN LAND AUCTIONS,' THE PANEL SAID.
"AT
"
ON OTHER RELATED MATTERS, THE PANEL CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS NEED TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF MOBILE PHONES WITHIN THE AUCTION HALL AS LONG AS THE CONDUCT OF THE AUCTION WAS ORDERLY.
NO
DIFFERENT AUCTION
THE PANEL ALSO EXAMINED THE SUITABILITY OF VENUES AND FELT THAT SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE MADE IN ALL OF THE VENUES NORMALLY USED, ALTHOUGH SOME MIGHT BE BETTER THAN OTHERS FROM AN OVERALL CONTROL POINT OF VIEW.
THE PANEL WILL CONTINUE TO CONSIDER OTHER ASPECTS OF LAND AUCTION ARRANGEMENTS IDENTIFIED DURING ITS DELIBERATIONS WHICH REQUIRE MORE IN-DEPTH EXAMINATION.
/THESE INCLUDE