The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:

     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) hosted the Estate Management Services Contractors Awards 2016 presentation ceremony today (March 8). A total of 41 awards were presented to services contractors, estate managers and front-line staff in recognition of their outstanding performance in managing the HA's properties in the past year.

     Officiating at the presentation ceremony, the Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Albert Lee, said, "Along with the community's increasing awareness of occupational safety and being environmental friendly in recent years, great efforts in responsive action taken by the services contractors are required in provision of estate management services. In the face of the challenges from different aspects, we keep on joining hands with contractors to make continuous improvements in providing quality services to meet the rising standards of the trade."

     To enhance the safety and health of staff, the HA introduced the Occupational Injury Alert & Warning Triggering System in all contracts for property management, cleaning and security services in the beginning of last year. The system serves to monitor periodically the contractors' performance in site safety and remind the contractors of the reinforcement of site safety management, enabling the provision of a safe working environment for staff.

     The Estate Management Services Contractors Awards is organised annually to give due recognition to service contractors with excellent performance. The awards this year went to 12 property, cleaning and security services contractors and carpark operators, seven estate managers and 12 front-line staff members. The estates managed by the winners of Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services) include Ching Ho Estate, Tai Yuen Estate, Cheung Ching Estate, Shek Lei (II) Estate, Cheung Sha Wan Estate, Fu Tung Estate, Shui Pin Wai Estate and On Tin Estate. (Please see the attachment for details.)

     The award winners were determined based on the combined scores given by the assessment panel, the Housing Department's supervisory teams, feedback from the Estate Management Advisory Committees and the results of random surveys conducted among residents.

     Currently, more than half of the management of the HA's public rental housing estates is outsourced to property services agents, and many maintenance tasks in the HA estates are being carried out by contractors. By leveraging the private sector's resources and experience in managing private properties, the HA seeks to raise the level of its estate management services and to provide a safe and pleasant living environment for its tenants.

     The HA reviews its outsourcing strategy regularly and monitors the performance of its contractors closely to ensure their delivery of quality services. Over the years, the HA has built close ties with the services contractors. Good communications and exchanges are imperative to strengthening the partnership and improvement in estate management services.

Ends/Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:55

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