Despite a new law requiring the training and licensing of estate agents, many members of the public remain sceptical they will receive a better level of service, Hong Kong Society of Real Estate Agents president Louisa Sum Kwok-fong says.
Ms Sum said that during recent forums to gauge public opinion on the new set of standards to be adopted for the training and licensing of property agents, many members of the public were irked by the so-called 'grandfather clause' in the working report.
The Estate Agents Authority (EAA) says in licensing requirement and practising regulations proposals that anyone with 10 or more years' property industry experience would have to attend a mandatory training course but did not need to sit examinations.
The EAA said the move was in recognition of the experience of senior members of the trade.
They said similar special arrangements to cater for these 'grandfathers' were provided for in licensing systems of some other trades.
Ms Sum said criticism of the 'grandfather clause' arose out of people's concerns about whether the new training and licensing system for estate agents would lead to more professionalism within the industry.
'The major concern was just how difficult the exam was and whether the agents would provide a better level of professional service after they passed the exam,' Ms Sum said.