TDM Forum Opinions divided over property security licensing

At yesterday’s TDM Forum, government officials, industry representatives and residents voiced conflicting opinions regarding the licensing for security guards working for property management companies.
The Housing Bureau (IH) acting president Ieong Kam Wa and a number of residents believe that now is not a suitable time to set up an accreditation scheme for property security guards. Others, including the Property Management Business Association Macau (PMBA) president Chui Ming Man, argue that licensing is necessary in order to implement better services for proprietors.
Currently, the local government is consulting the public over legislation regulating the property management business. So far, it has received around 60 written opinions. The consultation period ends on November 9.
One of the ideas proposed in the consultation document was for every stipulated property management company to hire at least one government-
accredited technical supervisor. They will be responsible for giving instructions regarding the day-to-day operation of a property management company. Nevertheless, the document failed to mention the accreditation of security guards.
Chui Ming Man said that the property management industry is inclined to establish a licensing scheme for property security guards, in order to protect their interests.
“If it is only the technical supervisor who needs to be accredited, it is possible that the professionalism cannot be brought to the [rank-and-file security guards],” Mr Chui said.
IH acting president Ieong Kam Wa responded that the administration did not propose the licensing of property security guards because of the relatively advanced age of local guards. Their work, he added, does not require highly professional skills.
“There are two aspects that we have to look at. First, according to a survey we have done previously, there are almost 5,000 people who are in the property management industry. Their average age is relatively high. And they have a relatively low professional knowledge, while the industry does not require them to have very high professional skills. [The government policy on property security guards] is mainly to provide assistance rather than licensing,” he said.
Ieong Kam Wa added that with constrained resources, the government should focus on regulating technical supervisors, whom he argues are playing the most crucial role in property management services.
Like the division between the government and industry representatives, residents who attended the forum were divided on the topic of property security guard accreditation.
Pro-licensing residents were mainly disgruntled with the performance of the security guards in their buildings, accusing them of sleeping through their shifts. They were reportedly impolite towards  residents, and took other part-
time jobs, such as washing cars, during their supposed working hours.
Those who oppose licensing were concerned with the employment opportunities of the elderly population, worrying that they would be unable to keep their jobs if accreditation is required. They think that it is difficult for old people to pick up new skills in order to meet potential licensing criteria. One of the residents also proposed that, any future licensing scheme for property security staff should be divided into different levels.
Ieong Kam Wa later spoke to the media on the sidelines. The IH acting president believes that the legislation on property management regulations can be handed to the Legislative Assembly in 2016.