Government still weighing decision on restricting proxy voters, Hong Kong official says

Hong Kong authorities have yet to decide whether to restrict proxy voters at homeowners’ meetings to relatives or other flat owners of the same estate under proposed law amendments meant to combat bid-rigging, the home affairs director has said, arguing such a move could be overly strict.

Director of Home Affairs Priscilla To Kit-lai said on Saturday that the proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance were aimed at enhancing the legitimacy of proxy votes amid concerns that voting results could be manipulated by a minority.

But she said the government had yet to decide whether proxy holders should be limited to the owners’ relatives or other owners in the same estate.

“For example, an elderly person living alone has a familiar friend in a different housing estate who helps the person – that’s acceptable now,” she said on a television programme.

“But it might not be possible if we add proposed restrictions. We need to see if society feels this is too strict.”

Issues of building management and owner governance came under intense scrutiny during an independent committee hearing looking into the cause of the devastating fire at Wang Fuk Court that killed 168 people last November, with testimonies alleging bid-rigging and proxy vote collection.

In a consultation document released earlier this month, authorities laid out five major directions for proposed amendments to the Building Management Ordinance, which regulates incorporated ownership in buildings.