A Justice Ministry panel on Tuesday introduced a draft plan to help evict tenants occupying properties up for sale with the intent of preventing them from being sold.

The proposal would modify the Civil Code and the Law of Civil Execution. It is mainly aimed at facilitating sales of land and buildings used as collateral for loans from commercial banks.

A current provision on short-term leases enables occupants to remain in properties for the contract period, which can be up to three years, even if owners change after it is sold at auction.

As a result, there have been numerous instances in which people have occupied a property and prevented it from being sold by demanding exorbitant amounts in eviction compensation, according to the ministry officials.

Among other proposed changes, the panel's suggestion would eliminate the provision and institute a rule to force occupants to vacate a property within three months of it being claimed in an auction, according to the officials.

The draft was adopted by a subpanel of the Legislative Council, which advises the justice minister. The government is planning to submit the necessary bills on the revision during its current session after the council approves the draft at a meeting scheduled for Feb. 5.