The Code of Conduct entitled “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works” issued by the Property Management Services Authority (PMSA) pursuant to Section 5(1) of the Property Management Services Ordinance (Cap. 626) will be gazetted tomorrow. The PMSA has also prepared the respective Best Practice Guide to provide practical guidance for the property management (PM) industry on handling suspended working platform works.
The PMSA Chairperson Tony TSE said, “The PMSA is very concerned of occupational safety in carrying out PM works. Since most buildings in Hong Kong are skyscrapers and large glass walls are commonly used in new residential and commercial building designs, property management companies (PMCs) and property management practitioners (PMPs) often need to use suspended working platforms to carry out maintenance and cleansing works from time to time. Having consulted various stakeholders, the PMSA has formulated the related Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guide in order to enhance the safety standard of suspended working platform works to be carried out by the industry and further enhance the industry’s safety awareness in handling such works. The PMSA appeals to licensed PMCs and PMPs to comply with the guidelines stipulated in the Code and Guide in order to prevent accidents from occurring.”
The “Handling Suspended Working Platform Works” Code of Conduct covers the following aspects:
- Points to note when PMC carrying out by itself suspended working platform work;
- Points to note when PMC arranging for suspended working platform work;
- Points to note when PMC handling suspended working platform work to be carried out by individual flat owner;
- How PMC should monitor suspended working platform work;
- How PMC should make notification in respect of suspended working platform work;
- Follow-up work by PMC after completion of suspended working platform work; and
- How PMC should keep records on suspended working platform work.
The PMSA formulated the Code of Conduct and its respective Best Practice Guide in consultation with Government departments and public bodies including the Development Bureau, the Home Affairs Department, the Labour Department and the Construction Industry Council, as well as with the industry and owners’ organisations. The feedback collected from the consultation has been appropriately reflected in the Code and Guide.
Since the implementation of the PM industry licensing regime, the PMSA has already issued a total of 13 Codes of Conduct and their relevant Best Practice Guides, including “General Code of Conduct”, “Complaint Handling Mechanism of Property Management Companies”, “Effective Control over Property Management Business by Property Management Companies”, “Handling Moneys Received on behalf of Clients by Property Management Companies”, “Obligations of Property Management Companies regarding the Ending of their Appointment”, “Prevention of Corruption”, “Prescribed Conditions on Licences”, “Protection on Personal Data”, “Handling Payment for or Arranging Payment to be Made by Clients”, “Provision of Prescribed Information and Financial Documents to Clients” , “Carrying out Procurement for Clients and Prevention of Bid-rigging”, “Handling Emergencies” and “Handling Scaffolding Works”.
The above Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides can be downloaded from the following PMSA webpage: https://www.pmsa.org.hk/en/regulatory/codes-of-conduct
The PMSA will continue to issue other Codes of Conduct and Best Practice Guides timely, covering different PM areas in order to provide guidance to the industry, including but not limited to the following:
- Prevention of Corruption – Staff Recruitment and Management;
- Monitoring Outsourced Property Management Services;
- Mechanism for Distribution of Promotional Materials at Property by PMCs; and
- Handling Instrument of Appointing a Proxy.
Ends/Thursday, 27 October 2022
Issued at HKT 15:00
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