Although REDA's statement focused on five separate, but equally important, issues that it believes need to be addressed before any legislation is passed to protect the free and fair trade principles of the property sector, your editorial was aimed mainly at the use of saleable area vs gross floor area (GFA) in the sale of flats.

REDA has consistently expressed its support for the government's efforts to introduce saleable area as a basis for calculating price. However, it also proposes the inclusion of a standard definition of GFA to provide buyers with additional information and reduce confusion arising from different properties in the primary and secondary markets using different forms of measurement.

As the proposed legislation does not cover second-hand properties, it is unavoidable that similar, if not identical flats, possibly in the same development, will be priced using totally different methods of calculation. If developers are legally constrained from providing GFA information, consumers will not be able to make an apples-to-apples comparison.

You are absolutely correct in questioning 'why developers cannot just inform prospective buyers what those amenities are and what area they cover, and the notional proportionate allocation of the total space to each flat'.

That is precisely what REDA is proposing to do through the provision of the GFA information, which the legislation proposes to bar.

REDA also firmly believes that the legislation should apply to all properties, including those being offered by private sellers and the government's own Housing Authority.

This, as you correctly state, is what is required for a healthy market that is transparent and operated on a level playing field for all.

Louis Loong, secretary general, REDA