Research Report The Council has just finished the publication of a new research report namely “Benchmarking of Management Fees for Office Buildings in Hong Kong” It was the second similar benchmarking report following the research on residential building published last year. The level of management fees of office buildings depends largely on the standard of management and maintenance services corresponding to grading, efficiency, customer expectations, materials durability, building size, age and any other special features. The research has focused on the essential components which predominately affect the level of management fees for Grade A, B and C office buildings and the study of their close associated relationships. The data therein obtained is considered very useful to PFM Surveyors in the practice of office building management in Hong Kong. I would like to thank for the assistance of our Honorary Secretary, Mr Charles Hung, for his tremendous effort working in close collaboration with Dr K.K. Lo of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Dr Lo had kindly agreed to conduct a CPD presenting his research findings for the Institute, and the event might possibly be held in around December this year. Similar to last year, a copy of the research report will be dispatched to all participants during the CPD so, if you wish to keep a copy of the report for future reference, please watch out for the schedule of this important CPD event. Standard Management Agreement The Council has formed a working group which is led by our Council Member, Mr Chris Cheung, in the formulation of a series of standard agreement for the provision of property and facility management services, security service and cleansing service. The first draft of simplified version of property management agreement (English) is close to its final stage. This simplified version of agreement intends to be used by owners corporation in the appointment of property management agent. Hence Chinese translation will also be produced in order to facilitate a wide adoption in the private market. It is expected that the document could be ready for publication in the later part of this year. If members have any view that consider useful for incorporation into the proposed agreement, please feel free to send an email to me at [email protected]. I will relate your information to Chris Cheung for arrangement of a more detailed discussion. Meeting New President of the Hong Kong Institute of Housing Our Vice chairman, Mr Dick Kwok, Honorary Secretary, Mr Charles Hung, and I met the new president of the HKIH, Mr T.K. Share in a luncheon gathering of 22 July 2010. The Chairman of the Housing Managers Registration Board, Mr Mingo Kwan, Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Housing (Asia Pacific Branch), Mr Sanford Poon, and President of the Hong Kong Institute of Facility Management, Mr Nelson Ho also joined the gathering. Whilst we congratulated Mr Share for his successful election as the new President of the HKIH, we have also exchanged views on the recent proposal submitted by the Home Affairs Department to the Legislative Council in respect of “Regulation of the Property Management Industry”. Although there may be a slight dissenting view on some minor aspects, the overall discussion was fruitful and constructive. We expect that there will be frequent gathering between the various Institutes. Listing of Organizations Providing Property and Facility Management Services In the January issue of Surveyors Times, I notified members that the Council intends to formulate and maintain a list of organizations providing property and facility management services. We have already received several applications for inclusion onto the Institute’s list and the details of some organizations were uploaded to our website after assessment by a designated working group led by our Honorary Secretary. May I remind members once again that you may download the application forms from the Institute website if your organization is still not on the list. Please note that listing is not confined to limited company and non-government organization may also apply for inclusion onto the list subject to meeting the minimum requirements.