Hong Kong Ordinances

HOUSING MANAGERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE - SECT 21

Inquiry committee and rules of conduct

(1) The Board may refer any complaint concerning a disciplinary  offence to an
inquiry committee for decision, and for that purpose the Board may establish
an inquiry committee of not less than 3 members of the Institute to determine
whether or not the registered professional housing  manager in respect of whom
the complaint is made has committed a disciplinary offence.

(2) The Board may make rules providing for the conduct of its inquiries by an
inquiry committee and for other matters relating to the investigation of an
alleged disciplinary offence.

(3) The inquiry committee shall not proceed to hear evidence of a complaint
concerning a disciplinary offence unless the registered 
professional housing manager in respect of whom the complaint is made is given
28 days' notice of the complaint and the date, time and place of the hearing.

(4) The registered professional housing manager referred to in subsection (3)
shall be entitled to attend and hear all evidence produced at the hearing and
may make representations or be represented either by a barrister or a
solicitor and shall be provided with a copy of this Ordinance and any rules
made under this section.

(5) The Board may make rules for the rehearing of an inquiry by an
inquiry committee.

(6) Where a registered professional housing manager is alleged to have
committed a disciplinary offence under section 20(1)(b) or (f), the
inquiry committee-

   (a)  shall not be required to inquire whether the registered 
        professional housing manager was properly convicted of the alleged
        offence; and

   (b)  may consider any record of the case in which a conviction was recorded
        and any other evidence which is relevant as showing the nature and
        gravity of the offence.

(7) The inquiry committee may, in deciding whether a person has committed a
disciplinary offence, have regard to any code of professional conduct or
practice issued and published by the Board or currently in use by the
Institute.