Proxy votes loom large in building management law fix

Hong Kong's Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Alice Mak, has announced plans to bolster proxy vote checks and consider a limit on such votes. The government is currently examining amendments to the Building-Management Ordinance following a public consultation that received 500 responses. Over half of the respondents raised concerns about a proposed cap on proxy votes.

The issue of verification has also emerged as a practical difficulty. If a cap of 20 votes is set, how can the system determine the 21st or 22nd votes? Should the count occur when the proxy votes are submitted to the owners' corporation or when the proxy form is signed?

Mak acknowledged these practical concerns and stated that the government will continue to study the proposed cap and related matters, including the criteria for appointing a proxy and the possibility of electronic proxy appointments. The ultimate goal is to ensure the proxy-vote system is not abused and that votes cannot be forged.

Mak emphasized the need to verify the genuineness of proxy appointments and ensure that the system operates smoothly on the ground level to prevent potential disputes. A paper outlining the proposed changes has already been submitted to the Legislative Council, and the matter will be discussed during a meeting next week.