XN000022-1992-05-06 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1992

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WAYS TO REGULATE ESTATE AGENTS

* * *

BEYOND

SELF-REGULATION AND AGENTS'

THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE LOOKING EXAMINING THE FORM OF POSSIBLE REGULATORY CONTROLS OF ESTATE OPERATIONS.

ENVIRONMENT AND THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, LANDS, MR TONY EASON, WHEN WINDING UP AN ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON "PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND ETHICAL STANDARDS OF ESTATE AGENTS AND PROPERTY MANAGERS" IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WITH TWO ESTATE MR EASON SAID UNDERSTANDING HAD BEEN REACHED

OF SOME FORM OF REGULATION AGENT ASSOCIATIONS THAT THE INTRODUCTION OF ESTATE AGENTS THROUGH LICENSING SHOULD BE PURSUED.

PROFESSIONAL AND SUFFICIENT NECESSARY TRAINING

THIS REQUIRES A BETTER DEFINITION OF THE LEVEL OF COMPETENCE AND PROVISION OF AN ADEQUATE OPPORTUNITY TIME FOR PRACTISING ESTATE AGENTS TO RECEIVE THE AND TO ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED STANDARD.

**

WORKED OUT,

HONG KONG

ANY REGULATORY SYSTEM WILL NEED TO BE CAREFULLY HE SAID, ADDING THAT SIMPLY GRAFTING A FOREIGN SYSTEM ONTO WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE THE SOLUTION.

SAID

BEFORE A

SITUATION, MR EASON FULLY-FLEDGED

TAKING ACCOUNT OF HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR

HAD SOME

TO BE QUESTIONS REGULATORY SYSTEM COULD BE DEVISED.

ADDRESSED

BE ATTAINED ESTATE

AN AS

INTERMEDIARY ONE PARTY'S INTERESTS,

SYSTEM;

POSSIBLE

THESE INCLUDED SETTING THE REQUIRED STANDARDS TO BEFORE A PERSON CAN PRACTISE AS AN ESTATE AGENT OR OPERATE AN

AN ESTATE AGENT SHOULD OPERATE AGENCY: WHETHER

SELLER AND BUYER OR REPRESENT ONLY BETWEEN LIKELY EFFECTS ON

CHARGING ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS.

THE COMMISSION

AND

REQUIRED FOR SUCH

"IF LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED, RESOURCES WILL BE ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT. AS WE ARE ALL AWARE, ANY BID FOR RESOURCES WILL HAVE TO COMPETE WITH OTHERS FOR PRIORITY,'

14

HE SAID.

MR EASON SAID SOME HEADWAYS HAD ALREADY BEEN MADE IN ABOUT THE SELF-REGULATION OF ESTATE AGENTS.

"THE

ARE PLANNING

NEWLY-FORMED ASSOCIATIONS TWO AIMED AT PROMOTING PROFESSIONAL ISM AMONG THEIR MEMBERS AND PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THEIR SERVICES.

CODE

BRINGING

ACTIVITIES INCREASING

A

"EFFORTS ARE ALSO BEING DIRECTED AT, FOR EXAMPLE, DRAWING UP

CO-OPERATION WITH OF PRACTICE, ORGANISING TRAINING COURSES IN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AND SETTING UP A PUBLIC COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE. THESE DEVELOPMENTS ARE ALL IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, HE SAID.

I

WITH EFFORTS PARTIES IN

"THE ADMINISTRATION WILL THEREFORE PURSUE ITS DISCUSSIONS REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TRADE, MONITOR THE PROGRESS OF THEIR AND LISTEN TO THEIR VIEWS AND THOSE OF OTHER INTERESTED SEEKING THE WAY FORWARD,' HE ADDED).

"

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