An International Housing Conference was held in Taipei NTUH International Conference Centre on 27 February 2009. The event aims to promote professional housing management practice in Taiwan and to provide a platform for knowledge and experience sharing among housing management professionals in the region. The conference was first of its kind held outside Hong Kong by the Asian Pacific Branch. Co-organizers of the conference are Property Managers Association, Republic of China, Taipei Building Management Company Association and Taichung Property Management Agency Association. The funding organizations include the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau of Hong Kong SAR Government, 元利建設仝業股份有限公司 and 國貿公寓大廈管理維護股份有限公司.

To cope with the current economic situation, the conference was themed ‘New Opportunities of Housing Management under Economic Recession’. Speakers from United Kingdom, Hong Kong, China and Macau were invited to share their view on Housing Management during the current economic turmoil, including Dr. Keith Futcher, Regional Director, Greater China of ISS Facility Services Limited; Mr. Paul Diggory, Chief Executive of North Wales Housing Association; Mr. Paddy Gray, Director of Studies School of Built Environment of University of Ulster; Professor Eddie Hui of Hong Kong Polytechnic University; Mr. C H Fan, Managing Director of Synergies Management Services Limited; Mr. Cliff Wong, Vice Chairman of Housing Managers Registration Board of Hong Kong; Dr. C M Chiang, Part time Professor of Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Mr. K C Chu, Associate Director, CB Richard Ellis Limited; and Dr. Kenneth Kao, Chairman of Property Managers Association of Republic of China.

At the opening remarks, Mr. Sanford Poon, Chairman of Chartered Institute of Housing Asian Pacific Branch briefly introduced the history of CIHAPB and shared his view with the participants on the property management of Hong Kong and Taiwan. He hoped CIHAPB could further co-operate with Taiwan counterparts on the promotion of professional housing management in the region. After remarks made by the three honourable guests, Mr. H M Su, Deputy Director of Construction and Planning Administration, Ministry of the Interior, Republic of China; Mr. N Y Huang, former Director of Construction and Planning Administration, Republic of China; and Dr. Kenneth Kao, Chairman of Property Managers Association of Republic of China, the opening ceremony ended and the conference continued with the speeches delivered by the guest speakers.

The conference was well attended by nearly 200 housing management professionals from the Asia Pacific region. A total of nine speeches had been delivered by the guest speakers during the conference. The function conducted smoothly throughout the day and was overwhelmingly successful. Participants highly praised the information/knowledge shared by the speakers in the conference and hoped the Branch to conduct more similar conferences in Taiwan in the coming future.