Housing Department implements Ombudsman's recommendations
********************************************************* The Housing Department (HD) has generally agreed with conclusions and recommendations contained in the Direct Investigation Report compiled by The Ombudsman on the monitoring of Property Services Agents (PSAs) by the Housing Department.
"We have already started to implement some of the recommendations including taking over major maintenance responsibilities for nine of 46 existing PSA contracts," the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Lau Kai-hung, said today (September 1).
The Ombudsman said many PSAs lacked the necessary experience and expertise for dealing with the HD's works contractors and for handling works orders in accordance with the HD's procedures.
"To improve the situation, the Housing Authority's Tender Committee endorsed in early 2005 that in letting contracts to PSAs the department should take up the major maintenance works," Mr Lau said.
Other improvement measures to be adopted include issuing Best Practice Notes to department staff reminding them to continue to discharge all the required statutory functions not delegable to PSAs.
"A clear message will also be sent to public rental housing tenants on the roles of HD and PSAs," Mr Lau said.
"More forums and training sessions will be organised for department and PSA staff to enhance their understanding of our policy and management practices, as well as the importance of customer services," he added.
Surprise inspections will be carried out for performance assessments. A new assessment mechanism is being developed to reflect more accurately the performance of PSAs.
Mr Lau said the report had endorsed outsourcing as capable of delivering efficient, flexible and cost-effective estate management services.
As at August 2005, the department had outsourced to property management agents the management of 84 public rental housing estates out of a total of 153 estates.
********************************************************* The Housing Department (HD) has generally agreed with conclusions and recommendations contained in the Direct Investigation Report compiled by The Ombudsman on the monitoring of Property Services Agents (PSAs) by the Housing Department.
"We have already started to implement some of the recommendations including taking over major maintenance responsibilities for nine of 46 existing PSA contracts," the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Lau Kai-hung, said today (September 1).
The Ombudsman said many PSAs lacked the necessary experience and expertise for dealing with the HD's works contractors and for handling works orders in accordance with the HD's procedures.
"To improve the situation, the Housing Authority's Tender Committee endorsed in early 2005 that in letting contracts to PSAs the department should take up the major maintenance works," Mr Lau said.
Other improvement measures to be adopted include issuing Best Practice Notes to department staff reminding them to continue to discharge all the required statutory functions not delegable to PSAs.
"A clear message will also be sent to public rental housing tenants on the roles of HD and PSAs," Mr Lau said.
"More forums and training sessions will be organised for department and PSA staff to enhance their understanding of our policy and management practices, as well as the importance of customer services," he added.
Surprise inspections will be carried out for performance assessments. A new assessment mechanism is being developed to reflect more accurately the performance of PSAs.
Mr Lau said the report had endorsed outsourcing as capable of delivering efficient, flexible and cost-effective estate management services.
As at August 2005, the department had outsourced to property management agents the management of 84 public rental housing estates out of a total of 153 estates.
Ends/Thursday, September 1, 2005
Issued at HKT 17:33
NNNN