XN000022-1994-03-11 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1994

"WE HOPE THAT WITH MORE HARD WORK BY ALL CONCERNED, A MUTUALLY ACCEPTABLE SOLUTION COULD BE FOUND.

++

HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN CONTINUED, IT WAS LEARNED TODAY THAT THE SNEOA WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THE ADMINISTRATION GRANTING APPROVAL IN PRINCIPLE ΤΟ OFFICERS WHO MET THE CRITERIA FOR TRANSFER WHILE DISCUSSIONS WERE TAKING PLACE.

ΤΟ PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT, HE SAID, SNEOA HAD BEEN URGING THE ADMINISTRATION TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS.

"

"THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT WE ARE DOING, HE SAID. "TODAY THEY HAVE SAID FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT THEY WANT US TO SUSPEND THE GRANTING OF APPROVALS UNTIL APRIL 20.

"WHILE WE WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER THAT SUGGESTION, THERE COULD BE PROBLEMS FOR CONTRACTS WHICH WILL EXPIRE IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS."

THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS (VARIATION OF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE) (TEMPORARY PROVISIONS } ORDINANCE, THE ADMINISTRATION HAD CONTINUED TO PROCESS APPLICATIONS FOR TRANSFER TO LOCAL TERMS.

FOR THOSE APPLICANTS WHO CAN MEET THE CRITERIA FOR TRANSFER AND WHOSE APPLICATIONS WOULD OTHERWISE BE APPROVED, THEIR CONTRACTS ARE BEING EXTENDED ON OVERSEAS CONDITIONS UNTIL THE ORDINANCE LAPSES, AFTER WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION INTENDS TO OFFER THEM AN AGREEMENT BASED ON LOCAL CONDITIONS OF SERVICE.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR ESTATE AGENTS RECOMMENDED

* * * * *

RECOMMENDATION

WILL BE MADE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGULATORY AUTHORITY FOR LICENSING REAL ESTATE AGENTS, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS (HOUSING POLICY), MR LEO KWAN, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE SAID THE AUTHORITY'S FUNCTIONS WILL INCLUDE ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON REGULATORY MATTERS, DETERMINING LICENSING REQUIREMENTS, LICENSING ESTATE AGENTS, INQUIRING INTO ALLEGED BREACHES OF RULES REGULATIONS AND IMPOSING PENALTIES ON DEFAULTING AGENTS.

AND

REAL

REGULATORY

THIS CAME AFTER THE WORKING GROUP ON THE REGULATION OF ESTATE AGENTS HAS DELIBERATED FULLY THE SETTING UP OF A FRAMEWORK FOR THE TRADE OVER THE PAST FOUR MONTHS.

THE GROUP ALSO STUDIED VARIOUS OVERSEAS REGULATORY SYSTEMS FOR ESTATE AGENTS AND CONSIDERED LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS' VIEW AND PUBLIC OPINION IN ITS DISCUSSIONS.

"A

MINIMUM AGENTS,

REGULATORY AUTHORITY WILL SERVE THE PURPOSE OF ASSURING SERVICE STANDARD AND SANCTIONING INCOMPETENT AND DISHONEST HE SAID

/MR KWAN