President��s Report for 2009-2010

Dear Members,

Last year was a busy year for our members in their business, and as well a busy year and eventful year for our Society. Here are some highlights of activities in 2009-10:

With EAA

The meetings with EAA were formalized as regular quarterly formal meetings, together with 7 other real estate associations. We also had dinners (in informal settings) with the Chairlady and CEO of EAA to enhance our relationship and communication with EAA.

In the past 12 months, 4 formal meetings were held and important issues included:

l          Requested EAA to educate agents long enough prior to strict enforcement of EAA Rules and Regulations;

l          Sought better arrangements for mutual recognition of Estate Agent Licence with PRC;

l          Requested EAA to implement the mandatory CPD hours step by step, with flexible learning channels and resources;

l          Requested EAA to review and to consider easier & better ways to comply with the 7 requirements on listing /selling of property;

l          Followed up on the long overdue promise by Government on establishment of a Central Information Centre;

l          Demanded EAA for better consultation with all the major real estate associations before issue of any practice circulars.

With Other Real Estate Associations

l          Had 7 Joint Council meetings to discuss and to decide on issues relating to real estate industry;

l          Managed to reduce the fee charged by the R & V Department for Property Information Online from $12.0 to $9.0 per search;

l          Sought opinion and assistance from the Liberal Party in negotiation with Government and EAA on various issues;

l          Sent our joint opinion on the minimum hourly wages as well as on Home Ownership Scheme to the Legislative Council in April 2010.

With Government and Other Authorities

l          Met the delegation of Real Estate Authority from Singapore on Nov. 4, 2009;

l          Met the Assistant Commissioner of the Labour Department on Nov. 11, 2009 to express our views on minimum working hours and wages;

l          Met the delegation of real estate agents from Japan on March 11, 2010;

l          Wrote to URA on May 12, 2010 to express our discontent of not allowing agents to buy properties in URA developments that were sold through agents;

Within our Society

l          Held 10 council meetings to discuss and to decide on various issues;

l          Hosted 2 seminars (on March 9 and June 30, 2010) regarding application of various business licences in relation to various properties;

l          Promoted more participation of members in all events;

l          Re-designed our web-page.

With Media

l          Responded to media interviews on behalf of the Society from time to time.

Details of all these activities could be found in our e-bulletins and/or minutes of meetings that were circulated to members.

As president of our Society, I kept serving as a member of the HKTDC Infrastructure Development Committee, as well as the Vice-chairman of the Sedentary Workers Safety & Health Committee. As in the past years, other council members also served on behalf of our Society in various committees of EAA, Real Estate Services Training Council of VTC.

Thanks to the generous donation of a few company members, the cash flow of our Society has much been improved recently. Anyhow, the overall financial situation of the Society for 2009 was healthy, as reflected in our audited financial report.

In the coming AGM on October 14, there will be a bi-yearly election of council members and office bearers. I am satisfied with the performance of the present council in the past 2 years. I take this opportunity to thank all members for their continued support, in particular members of our council. I call for your full support of the new council in the coming year to accomplish our goals and I wish the new council every success.

Denys Kwan

President

10.10.2010