Hong Kong to keep 10% quorum for building maintenance votes amid concerns
Hong Kong will maintain the 10 per cent quorum for owners' general meetings on major repairs, after feedback that raising it could hinder meetings. A three-tier voting threshold based on project cost aims to boost participation, alongside mandatory briefings seven days before votes.
Hong Kong's proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance have completed a public consultation, receiving what the Secretary for Home Affairs, Youth and District Affairs, Ms. Tse Mee-kuen, described as practical feedback from owners' corporations and property management sectors. She expressed gratitude for the general support for the government's reform direction.
Speaking on RTHK's programme Saturday Accountability, Ms. Tse said the amendments aim to strengthen regulation, clarify the powers and duties of owners' corporations, and protect owners' rights. She stressed the need for balance, ensuring requirements are feasible in practice so as not to deter those willing to serve on owners' corporations.
Ms. Tse confirmed that the quorum for owners' general meetings on major repairs will remain at 10 per cent of owners, as raising it could make it difficult to convene meetings. However, a three-tier voting threshold will be introduced based on the cost of the project, encouraging more owners to vote on higher-cost repairs and become more involved in building management.
The amendments also require that an engineering briefing be held seven days before any owners' general meeting, at which tender results and analysis must be presented. Without such a briefing, no vote on the repair project can take place. This is intended to help owners understand the impact of the works and encourage their participation.
Ms. Tse noted that technology will be studied as a means to support proxy appointments, document storage, online voting and meeting platforms. She cautioned that careful study is needed because of data privacy concerns and the need to verify that voters are genuine owners and not subject to 'proxy voting'. The potential barriers for elderly owners in using technology must also be considered.