Editorial | Hong Kong has no room for public housing abuse
- Integrity of system at stake as start of high-profile Hong Kong crackdown nets nearly 60 households who also own private properties
That public housing abuse is on the rise is a problem to be reckoned with. Sadly, there has been more talk than action over the years, raising questions over the fair use of resources. So when a high-profile crackdown is finally under way, the outcome is being closely watched.
The initial findings by the government are telling, with nearly 60 households found to have owned private properties. The results came after the Housing Authority tightened the mechanism by requiring more tenants to make declarations and give consent for the cross-checking of data across departments. Under the new rules, those living in public housing for less than 10 years will also be asked to submit declarations every two years.
There are reasons to believe the initial figures only show the tip of the iceberg. Of the 88,000 declaration forms sent out in the first phase, some 15 per cent had yet to be returned by Tuesday, two days ahead of the deadline.
A check on 25,000 households in collaboration with the Land Registry has identified 59 property owners, representing about 0.2 per cent of those covered. With the net for declaration and checks set to be widened to another 719,000 by late 2025, it would not be surprising if more tenants are caught.
Officials said tenants with properties would not be kicked out immediately, noting that property ownership might come with different underlying reasons. But they also vowed to terminate the tenancy of those who abused or knowingly refused to declare.