Penalty scheme has failed to deter public housing residents from old habit of hanging their washing in public areas
Laundry continued to flutter in public places across the city yesterday as bureaucratic forces were massing to get rid of it.
But a tour of housing estates indicates officials will have a tough task on their hands. A week after the Ombudsman delivered scathing criticism of government departments that failed to tackle the problem, it was laundry business as usual.
Clothes were hanging to dry not just outside public estates but also inside them, even though this could earn the culprits demerit points, possibly leading to eviction.
Some residents said they had no choice as drying areas in the estates were too small. Others said they had been hanging their washing outside for 20 years and had no intention of stopping. Despite the prevalence of the practice, and daily patrols by Housing Department officials, no one has been issued demerit points for laundry offences since a penalty scheme aimed at keeping public housing clean and hygienic was launched in 2003.
Senior housing manager Yuen Keung-chau said 426 verbal warnings about airing laundry in public areas of estates had been issued.
A written warning had been issued, but no tenant had broken the rules three times, which carries a three-point deduction. Losing 16 points can lead to eviction.