Owners will be legally required to maintain their buildings under a proposal to be released for consultation at the end of this year, the housing chief said yesterday.
Secretary for Housing, Planning and Lands Michael Suen Ming-yeung said the government was finalising the details of the mandatory measure.
The consultation paper will suggest penalties for those who fail to carry out proper maintenance. It will be the second stage of a public consultation on building management and maintenance.
'The government is committed to improving building maintenance in Hong Kong. It is one of the key policy areas to address the building-decay problem,' he said.
'Properly maintaining a building is not just about safety: owners can benefit from the flat's appreciation.'
The housing chief was speaking at a Housing Society ceremony to mark the opening of a resource centre at Moon Lok Dai Ha, in Tsuen Wan, which aims to help property owners maintain their buildings. It is the society's third resource centre. Three more will open this year.