A PROMISE to set up a tribunal to deal with disputes between flat owners and property managers has been broken, legislators said yesterday.
The Government had not granted money to the judiciary to set up the property tribunal, Principal Assistant Secretary for Home Affairs, Francis Lo Chi-wai, told the Legislative Council's City and New Territories Administration panel.
Nor had it provided more funds for the Lands Tribunal to cope with the complaints as an interim measure, he said.
Property owners therefore had to file complaints with the Small Claims Tribunal or the Labour Tribunal.
Last May, officials promised to set up the new tribunal and said the Lands Tribunal's authority would be extended as an interim measure.
The promise came as part of reforms to allow half - rather than all - flat owners in a building to reach a consensus before sacking the management company.