Initiatives Recap.pdf

The Estate Agents Authority (EAA) launched the "Estate Agents Energy Saving Award Scheme" and held a kick-off ceremony in April 2021. In May, an online promotional campaign about the CPD Mark was launched, generating 40,000 clicks to the EAA consumer education website. The EAA's CEO attended a media interview by Metro Radio in June, discussing licensee population, qualification examinations, and compliance when selling first-hand residential properties. A leaflet titled "Conducting unlicensed estate agency work is a criminal offence" was produced and distributed to estate agency shops. The EAA held an online live streaming press conference in July to review its work in the first half of 2021 and introduce its initiatives for the second half. Two CPD courses were repeatedly held for 12 months with subsidies from the Government's Matching Grant Scheme. A new Announcement in the Public Interest (API) was launched on major TV and radio stations in August, reminding the public of important points-to-note when purchasing non-local properties. The EAA held a focus group meeting with front-line licensees in Mei Foo District and two staff were granted The Ombudsman's Awards 2021 for Officers of Public Organisations. An online live seminar reminding consumers of points-to-note about mortgage was held on the Facebook page of Metro Broadcast in September. The quarterly trade liaison meeting was held in an online conference format. The EAA's newly purchased office at E-Trade Plaza was opened in October, and the former Chairman Professor William Leung delivered a CPD talk. The EAA joined a CSR activity namely "Lunch Box Giveaway" under the YMCA Social Responsibility programme. A meeting with the newly formed concern group "地產代理業界銷售境外物業關注組" was held in November to discuss non-local properties. The EAA Chairman and CEO attended the 30th Anniversary cum new office opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Real Estate Agencies General Association. A special trade liaison meeting with eight major trade associations was held in December to discuss non-local properties. A total of 188 estate agency shops were awarded the "CPD Mark" in recognition of their active participation in the Continuing Professional Development Scheme. The qualifying examination fees were increased in January 2022, and the EAA's Chairman and CEO hosted an online live streaming press conference to review the EAA's work in 2021 and introduce its initiatives for 2022. The EAA issued a new Practice Circular providing guidelines for estate agents to follow when handling regulated tenancies in respect of subdivided units. A webinar to brief licensees on the new circular was arranged in February 2022. The EAA's booklet titled "Purchasing Non-local Properties Be SMART" was distributed to the public through inserting in some daily newspapers.