Hong Kong Ordinances

HOUSING MANAGERS REGISTRATION ORDINANCE - SECT 24

Powers in regard to obtaining of evidence and conduct at inquiry

(1) An inquiry committee shall have power-

   (a)  to hear, receive and examine evidence on oath;

   (b)  to summon any person to attend the inquiry either as the person whose
        conduct is the subject of the inquiry or to give evidence or produce
        any document or other thing in his possession and to examine him as a
        witness or require him to produce any document or other thing in his
        possession, subject to all just exceptions;

   (c)  subject to subsections (2) to (4), to admit to the inquiry or to
        exclude from the inquiry, the public or any member of the public or
        the media;

   (d)  to award any person summoned to attend the inquiry as a witness such
        sum, to be paid from the funds of the Board, as in the opinion of the
        inquiry committee has been reasonably expended by him in connection
        with his attendance.

(2) Where an inquiry committee, after consulting the registered 
professional housing manager, is satisfied that it is desirable to do so, it
may by order-

   (a)  direct that a hearing or part of a hearing shall take place in private
        and give directions as to the persons who may be present; and

   (b)  give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication or
        disclosure to some or all of the persons who may be present, of
        evidence given before the inquiry committee or of any matter contained
        in any document lodged with the inquiry committee or received in
        evidence by the inquiry committee.

(3) In the making of an order under subsection (2), the inquiry  committee,
without affecting the generality of that subsection, shall in determining
whether or not it is desirable to make an order, take into account any views
of the registered professional housing manager including the private interests
of and any claim as to privilege by the registered 
professional housing manager.

(4) For the purposes of this section, any question in relation to a claim by
the registered professional housing manager as to privilege shall be a
question of law.

(5) The Registrar shall sign summonses to witnesses.

(6) No person shall be required to answer any question or produce any document
or other thing which, in the opinion of the inquiry  committee, may tend to
incriminate him.

(7) A witness shall, in respect of any evidence given by him before the
inquiry committee, be entitled to the same privileges to which he would be
entitled if he were giving evidence in court.