XN000022-1996-12-11 — Page 51

- 27.

Management responsibility of MACS in HOS estates

Following is a question by the Hon Miss Lau Wai-hing, Emily and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

It is learnt that any person (including a Legislative Councillor) or organisation wishing to deliver printed materials into the letter boxes of residents in Home Ownership Scheme estates, or to mount publicity boards in these estates, has to obtain the prior consent of the mutual aid committees (MACS) of the estates concerned. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether these MACs, which are non-statutory bodies, have the right to prevent Legislative Councillors from distributing printed materials such as their work reports to the residents in these estates?

Reply:

MACS are residents' organisations formed by owners and tenants of the same buildings. They have responsibility, among other things, for the proper management of the buildings concerned.

There are no provisions in the law and in the MACs' constitutions for MACs to restrain distribution to residents of information material from Legislative Council members or, for that matter, from any other persons and organisations. However, MACs may do so at the request of the owners and tenants of the building or if they had consulted and obtained prior authorisation from them.

End

Compilation of the Hang Seng London Reference Index

Following is a question by the Hon Chim Pui-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services, Mr Rafael Hui, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Does the Government know: