More Hong Kong public flat tenants caught breaching the rules
Report shows more tenants are being caught using public housing illegally or throwing objects from flats as bureau steps up action
The number of public flat tenants caught flouting rules has soared in the past four years, and housing policy observers say it may still be just the tip of the iceberg.
The figures were contained in a paper presented to the Legislative Council tracking progress in a scheme introduced in 2003, under which tenants accumulate points for each breach and face eviction if the total reaches 16 within two years. The number of points varies from three for minor offences such as drying clothes in a public area to 15 for dangerous throwing of objects.
"The figures reflect, to a certain extent, the impact of the enhanced enforcement actions taken by the Housing Department," the Transport and Housing Bureau said in the report to Legco's housing panel. "It is also attributed to the tenants' readiness to lodge reports of misdeeds following our extensive publicity and education programmes."
Cases in which tenants had points deducted for illegal use of flats surged from 20 in 2009 to 90 last year, while cases of throwing objects from a height doubled from 80 to 160.
In contrast, the number of public hygiene offences decreased. Cases of smoking in common areas, littering and spitting dropped from 1,300, 400 and 80, respectively, in 2009, to 990, 130 and nine last year.
Housing Authority member Nelson Wong Sing-chi said he believed the rise in illegal-use cases was due to increased inspections as the government sought to curb abuse and free up misused flats for people on the lengthy waiting list. But he said it was still not enough.