Quality Property and Facility Management Award Nomination submission for the Quality Property and Facility Management Award 2010 has come to an end. An overwhelming response with more than 150 nominations was received across seven categories. Major property and facility management organizations in Hong Kong have submitted their projects for the Award. Competition is expected to be vigorous with only those demonstrating the utmost quality service to be short-listed by our professional panel of Assessors and Jurors in the running towards Grand Awards and Merit Awards within their respective categories. Assessment of nominations is now being carried out, whilst site visits to the short-listed projects will be arranged in late January 2011. Following the site visits, representatives of selected nominations will present their projects as finalists in front of the esteemed Jury Panel led by Mr C. K. Au, Director of Buildings, at the CPD Conference scheduled to be held on 26 February 2011. The CPD Conference will be open to all members and enrolment details will be announced very soon. Assessment of Professional Competence The Practical Task of our Division was held on 27 November. There were four candidates attending the assessment this year and three of them gained a pass after the one hour presentation/interview. The passing rate was 75%. I must take this opportunity to thank for the effort of our Council Member, Kenny Chan, for arranging the whole assessment process; and Rebecca Lee, Alan Wong, Charles Hung, Chris Cheung and Kenny Chan for sparing their time as assessors. Meeting Surveying Students of the University of Hong Kong The Institute was invited by the HKU to meet surveying students on 30 November. Me and Dick Kwok attended the meeting and shared with students our working experience in property and facility management areas. Students were quite interested in the career prospect and development of the profession and some are also keen to know the procedures of our APC and way to becoming a PFM Surveyor. Fortunately, I brought with me sufficient copies of our Division Brochure which already set out the route to membership and other training requirements. Research - Facility Management for Elders in Public/Subsidized Housing If members have read my Chairman Report of the AGM held on 26 November, which was also reproduced in last issue of Surveyors Times, you will notice that the Council collaborates with the City University of Hong Kong to conduct the captioned research. With the arrangement of CityU, a Focus Group Discussion in connection with data gathering for the research was held on 1 December. Me and Daniel Hui joined the discussion with other participants coming from the Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Hong Kong Housing Society and consultant designer aiming at brainstorming any improved facility design and provisions for the Elders in public / subsidized housing estate for the coming future. The discussion was moderated by Dr Leung Mei Yung of CityU and the outcome was constructive. Proposed Regulatory Framework for Property Management Industry The Home Affairs Department announced the publication of a consultation document namely "Safe Home - Comfortable Living, Enhancing Quality of Property Management Services; Putting in Place a Regulatory Framework for Property Management Industry" on 3 December. The paper sets out pros and cons of different possible regulatory models for the property management industry, and an analysis of the benefits and concerns of the proposed statutory licensing system. I have reported this in several issues of Surveyors Times hoping to draw member’s attention in this respect. The paper now invites public views on the following key issues: (1) whether the property management industry should be regulated at the company level or the individual level or both; (2) whether there should be a single universal set of requirements for all or there should be different tiers of requirements for companies and/or individuals with different qualifications and background; (3) what should be the scope of the proposed statutory licensing regime; (4) apart from being a regulator, should the proposed body assume other functions such as a disciplinary body, an industry promoter or both; and (5) is a transitional period necessary and, if so, how long should it be. It is our honour to have invited the Deputy Director of Home Affairs, Mr David Leung, to a Discussion Forum which will be held on 27 January 2011. Mr Leung will introduce the consultation paper in more details to members. As the proposed licensing system will have a significant impact on our profession, I would like to urge all members practicing in property and facility management that they should not miss this important event. Besides, I would also like to take this opportunity to gather members¡¦ opinions so as to let the Council to formulate a more representative view to the government. The consultation paper can be downloaded from the HAD website and public consultation which ends on 15 March 2011. On 16 December, the newly elected President, Mr Wong Bay, our Vice Chairman Dick Kwok and me had a lunch gathering with the President of the HKAPMC and HKIH, and Chairmen of the CIH(HK) and HMRB. We also shared our views on this proposed licensing system. CPD Event On 16 December, we have our honour to have invited Mr Lawrence Tse, Head of Building Management Task Force of the ICAC and Mr Chung Pui Lam, a renowned lawyer in building management to conduct a seminar for our members in Surveyors Learning Centre. The seminar was named as "Integrity and Quality Building Management 優質管理、誠信專業". The talk was very informative and was able to attract more than 70 members attending the event. Mr Chung also enlightened us the essence of some important legal cases in building management. Quality Building Management Competition Our Council Member Kenny Chan served as Judge for the Kowloon City Quality Building Management Competition organized by the Kowloon City District Council/Home Affairs Department/HKSAR in late November. 25 participating properties (categorized in three age groups) were inspected in five afternoons. Some aged buildings demonstrated also quality management among other newer buildings. Through this community engagement, the PFMD/HKIS would pose wider exposure/influence in the spectrum of property and facility management.