Property developers will have to make public (公開) their prices and provisional agreements (臨時合約) on sales of new flats in 24 hours instead of the current five-day grace period (note 2) under a new proposed rule to make firsthand sales (一手樓買賣) of flats more transparent (更透明).
Acting Permanent Secretary for Transport and Housing Annette Lee Lai-yee said this is part of measures (條例) put together by the bureau's steering committee on the regulation of the sale of firsthand residential properties. Giving an update on the committee's progress at a special meeting of the Legislative Council housing panel, Lee said all new projects regardless of (note 3) the lease nature will be covered by the measures.
Under the five-day disclosure rule, developers should make public the transaction information during the grace period. Lee said shortening the period will enhance (提升) the clarity of sales figures, in response to the community's demand for accurate information. She said the committee will also recommend that developers make public (note 4) the price list (樓價表) at least three days before the start of sales.
Cheung Kong Real Estate director William Kwok Tsz-wai said the measure will enhance transparency and professional standards (專業水平) of estate agents. "It is not difficult for agents to upload the required information onto their website within a day," he said. "But a technical problem may arise when homebuyers pay by checks over weekends or on holidays. It may take two or three days to confirm the transaction before we can make the agreements public."
The Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong said it will study (note 5) the proposals carefully. In a set of voluntary guidelines the group developed some years ago, it suggested that members be free to decide on whether to make public the results of their sales.
From good to better English:
(note 1) in the cards=將要發生、多半、可能 (likely or certain to happen)。Have one's card up one's sleeve=胸有成竹。play one's trump card=打出王牌，採取最好辦法。 play one's cards well=手腕高明。shuffle the cards=進行人事大調動，改變政策。throw up the cards=放棄計劃。
(note 2) grace period=寬限期 (a provision in most loan and insurance contracts which allows payment to be received for a certain period of time after the actual due date)。Grace=慈悲、體態結構優美、感恩禱告。an act of grace=恩典。A saving grace=可以彌補缺點的優點，可取之處。Fall from grace=墮落。
(note 3) regardless of=不管、不論。Regardless=不注意的，不留心的，不顧慮的，不關心的。Victor will go to Julian’s wedding regardless of the weather=無論天氣好壞Victor都要去參加Julian的婚禮。
(note 4) make public=公佈、公開。Public=公眾的，社會的，政府的，公營的。public good =公益。at the public expense=用公費。 in the public eye=公然。make a public protest=提公開抗議。
(note 5) study=研究專案。Victor studies Co Co’s face to see whether she is lying=Victor 仔細端詳Co Co的面貌，看看他有沒有撒謊。
Victor’s View: Timely information regarding property transactions is always welcome. Buyers must see with their own eyes and not just rely on what developers and real estate agents have to say.
(Victor Fung Keung, director of HK Baptist University’s M.A. in international journalism program, has published 4 books on English-enhancement [the latest, titled <<學會演說、改變你的人生>>, was published on July 18] and plans to write 6 more by the end of 2012. Write to him: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)
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