The Sales of First-hand Residential Properties Authority (SRPA) stated that the appeal by an estate agent against a two-month jail sentence for contravening the Residential Properties (First-hand Sales) Ordinance was dismissed by the High Court today (April 11). The estate agent was jailed immediately.
The estate agent was convicted by Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts on April 14, 2023, and was sentenced to two months' immediate imprisonment for each offence, to be served concurrently. He disseminated a piece of information concerning the ceiling height of a specified residential property, on December 6 and 8, 2019, respectively, which is false or misleading and likely to induce another person to purchase a specified residential property. This contravenes section 78 of the Ordinance. The appellant appealed to the High Court against the sentence.
A spokesman for the SRPA welcomes the verdict and reminds estate agents to familiarise themselves with the Ordinance, provide correct information to prospective purchasers and comply with good selling practices.
This is the first conviction of an estate agent since the Ordinance came into force on April 29, 2013. Details of the case have been uploaded onto the SRPA's website at www.srpa.gov.hk/en/prosecution-cases.html for public inspection.
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