A delegation of the EAA visited Macau on 27th April for professional exchange with the practitioners there. The delegation also met with Mr Chiang Coc Meng, President of the Macau Housing Bureau, and Mr Shuen Ka Hung, Director of the Macau Labour Affairs Bureau, to exchange views and share experience on the development of the estate agency trade in Hong Kong and Macau.

Ms Sandy Chan, Chief Executive Officer of the EAA, Mr Lun Chi-yim, Mr Alex Tang, and Mr Eric Lee, EAA Board members, met with Professor Cai Suisheng, Vice-chairman and Secretary General of the Guangdong Real Estate Association, and representatives from the Macau Housing Bureau and the Macau Property Agencies Association.

Building on the theme "Raising the Standard of Estate Agents", the seminar was co-organised by the Macau Labour Affairs Bureau, the Macau Property Agencies Association, and the Macau Polytechnic Institute. Many estate agents attended the seminar. Ms Sandy Chan, Chief Executive Officer of the EAA, along with trade representatives and members of the Authority Mr Lun Chi-yim, Mr Alex Tang and Mr Eric Lee, gave speeches on various issues relating to the regulatory experience in Hong Kong, impact of the licensing system on the estate agency trade, functions and roles of professional estate agents, etc.

Ms Chan emphasized in her speech that, "The mission of theEAA is to implement a regulatory system and promote professionalism among estate agents. As a stern gatekeeper, we make sure all the new practitioners have good professional knowledge. Hence, the EAA will enhance the standard of the Estate Agent Qualifying Examination starting from July this year. Meanwhile, we will raise the standard of existing practitioners through the Continuing Professional Development Scheme. Self-discipline of the practitioners, however, is certainly of great importance in the enhancement of the image and status of the sector."

Ms Chan hoped that the seminar could help the practitioners in Macau to acquire a better understanding of the regulatory measures in Hong Kong. She looks forward to further occasions for professional exchange between Hong Kong and Macau in future.