A centre supporting minority owners of old buildings affected by compulsory sale applications made under the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance (LCSRO) began operations today.

The Support Service Centre for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale, operating under the Urban Renewal Authority, is directly accountable to the Development Bureau.

Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn said the relevant amendments to the LCSRO will come into effect in mid-December at the earliest.

The centre, and the bureau’s Dedicated Office of Support Services for Minority Owners under Compulsory Sale, have commenced a series of public education and publicity activities with regard to the LCSRO. These are focused in particular on the concerns of minority owners around matters such as how to deal with developers’ notices of application for compulsory sale, subsequent legal proceedings, how to assess whether the acquisition prices offered by the developers are reasonable, and how to obtain relevant information and professional services.

Ms Linn highlighted that through connecting with local organisations such as District Councils and District Services & Community Care Teams, relevant professionals such as lawyers, surveyors and mediators, and designated non-governmental organisations, the centre endeavours to provide targeted and comprehensive one-stop support services to minority owners. 

The centre provides free preliminary professional advice to minority owners affected by compulsory sale applications in the form of seminars. It also provides free referrals for legal and valuation professional services, emotional counselling, and assistance in identifying alternative accommodation.

Ms Linn said the bureau has so far secured the support of over 60 lawyers and about 30 surveyors to provide free preliminary professional advisory services in the form of seminars.

She added that another function of the centre is to enable and encourage minority owners to participate in mediation, so as to resolve compulsory sale disputes through mediation instead of litigation.

In addition to providing minority owners with a list of accredited mediators, the centre will subsidise professional mediation services and independent property valuation services to assist minority owners in obtaining independent third-party valuation reports on the existing use values of their properties and the redevelopment values of the relevant lots.

The reports will help them in deciding whether or not to accept acquisition offers or to continue to litigate in respect of compulsory sale applications.

If minority owners decide to proceed with litigation after mediation fails, the centre will provide them with referral lists for the legal and surveying services that will be required.

Call 2156 8050 for enquiries.