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HAD steps up training to handle building management issues
The Home Affairs Department (HAD) has stepped up training for liaison staff to improve their skills in dealing with matters involving owners' corporations (OCs), the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau, said today (Saturday).
Officiating at the Building Management Seminar' 96, Mrs Lau said training courses on specific subjects had been designed and guidelines drawn up to help HAD staff handle public enquiries on building management issues.
Small group discussions and seminars were also organised to enable them to share their experiences.
Mrs Lau said: "The Home Affairs Department has all along been actively providing a wide variety of services to encourage and facilitate flat owners to incorporate themselves.
"The liaison officers of district offices will explain the formation procedures to the owners.
"To help them convene the formation meeting, district officers will issue exemption certificates to allow them to obtain free of charge information on the owners from the Land Registry.
"And after the formation of OCs, the officers will maintain contact with them and give them advice whenever they encounter problems in managing the building."
Mrs Lau pointed out that many of the over 4,500 OCs in the territory were formed with the encouragement and assistance of HAD.
Noting that OCs were legal entities established under the Deeds of Mutual Covenant and the Building Management Ordinance, Mrs Lau said the operation of corporations required the participation of owners in accordance with the law.
"In this connection, OCs or individual owners should seek legal advice from professionals in case of legal arguments, although HAD staff will endeavour to render general advice," she said.
To further owners' understanding of effective building management, HAD has been organising seminars, workshops, training courses and exhibitions on a regular basis for flat owners, office-bearers of OCs and mutual aid committee members, in addition to an annual large scale building management seminar.