HONG KONG, June 5, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- With an aim to enhance overall service quality and knowhow of practitioners in property management sector, The Hong Kong Institute of Housing ("HKIH") introduces a new category of membership, "Practitioners". The new membership also serves to officially recognize the status of practitioners who have more operational experiences and to retain this group of workforce in order to meet the increasing demand for property management experts.
According to the recent 2011 Manpower Survey Report published by the Vocation Training Council, there are a total of 73,481 personnel working in property management sector, among which 3,533 of them are at professional/ managerial level (accounting for 4.8% of the sector) while 11,318 are at supervisory level (accounting for 15.4%). With regard to the government's recent housing policy and the plan to increase land supply substantially, the existing number of property management professionals is far from sufficient to satisfy the future market demand.
HKIH passed the resolution to introduce the Practitioners membership on 31 October 2011 and is currently opened for application by property management personnel who satisfies the following criteria:
HKIH will provide continuous support to Practitioners for attaining Professional Membership in the future. Practitioners can join courses accredited by HKIH. Upon completion of courses, passing relevant English assessment test and full compliance of the PER, Practitioners can then be up-graded to Members of The Hong Kong Institute of Housing (known as 'M.H.K.I.H.').
The addition of Practitioners membership aims to raise the professional standard of the sector. Currently the service levels delivered by property management personnel vary greatly, HKIH hopes that the Practitioners membership can be an indicator of professionalism for the employers and the public to differentiate with those sub-standard or non-professional practitioners in the industry. This could ultimately enhance the service levels of property management at large.
"Despite the fact that the Government has not yet set out details of the property management licensing regime, the introduction of Practitioners by HKIH can identify and position qualified employees as professionals," said Mr Share Tai-ki, President of HKIH, "This can further gather opinions from those in operational level of the profession, so that a licensing regime with wide recognition can be established by the Government."
About the Hong Kong Institute of Housing
The Hong Kong Institute of Housing was incorporated in Hong Kong on 29 November 1988. As at May 2012, the HKIH has around 2,500 members. Together, the HKIH's members are responsible for the management of not less than 70% of all the housing stock in Hong Kong. Members are engaged in the co-ordination and execution of housing services incorporating the design, provision, improvement, rehabilitation, management and administration of all types of housing. Apart from actively expanding local network, the HKIH is forging close links with property management associations and academic institutions in Taiwan, Macau and many parts of mainland China.
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