Latest news with #ReportPublicHousingAbuseAward
HKFP
08-08-2025
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong gov't recovered 9,000 public rental flats over 3 years amid crackdown on ‘rich tenants'
The Hong Kong government has recovered around 9,000 public rental flats over the past three years amid a crackdown on 'rich tenants' and an abuse of public resources. Winnie Ho, the housing chief, said on Facebook on Wednesday that the approximately 9,000 flats taken back from July 2022 to this June has saved the government around HK$9 billion, which would otherwise have been spent on building new public flats. The official said that some retirees from the disciplinary forces had joined the government's task force set up to investigate suspected abuse cases. The retirees were recruited to assist with 'more serious and concealed suspected cases,' and to provide frontline staff with investigative skills training, Ho said in the Chinese-language Facebook post. Last February, Ho told state-back newspaper Ta Kung Pao that the Housing Department had hired some disciplinary forces retirees to help form a plan to crack down on public housing abuse, and to monitor online if any tenants are illegally subletting their units. The government has been stepping up efforts to identify 'rich tenants' living in public rental housing since early 2024, citing a limited supply of public housing units. Apart from the establishment of a special task force, the authorities have also enhanced scrutiny of tenants' finances, including the value of their vehicles and assets in Hong Kong, mainland Chinese and abroad. After taking office in July 2022, Chief Executive John Lee said addressing Hong Kong's housing issues topped his administration's agenda. He vowed to reduce the average waiting time for public rental housing – which was then 5.6 years then – to 4.5 within four years. As of this March, the average wait time was 5.3 years. Meanwhile, the government has also encouraged the public to report any suspected cases of suspected public housing abuse. Earlier in January, the Housing Authority rolled out the 'Report Public Housing Abuse Award.' Anyone who provides 'genuine and concrete information' that leads to the Housing Department's successful identification of abuse cases will be rewarded with HK$3,000 and a certificate of appreciation.
RTHK
18-06-2025
- Politics
- RTHK
8,700 rental flats resumed in John Lee's term so far
8,700 rental flats resumed in John Lee's term so far Winnie Ho says the 8,700 flats that have been taken back shows the administration's determination to combat tenancy abuse. Photo: RTHK Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho said the government is following up on around 700 reports of tenancy abuse since the Report Public Housing Abuse Award scheme was rolled out in January. Under the scheme, those who bring an instance of illegal public housing use to light can earn up to HK$3,000 and get a certificate of appreciation if the information helps authorities take back the flat. Speaking to RTHK to mark the third year of Chief Executive John Lee's administration as well as the 28th anniversary of the SAR's establishment, Ho said 3,900 reports of public rental housing abuses have been received so far. Of the 1,700 cases that the authorities have looked into in detail, about 700 were found to be more useful. "Looking ahead, I hope that we will be able to hand out the first batch of rewards, perhaps by the middle of the year around the summer holidays," Ho said. "Some residents will get this report public housing abuse award, and each of them will get HK$3,000. "We will respect the winners' wishes on how they want to find out if they've won, and whether they want to take the certificate or cheque in person or would like us to mail it to them. "We will try to act in accordance with their wishes." Ho told RTHK that as of the end of May, the government had taken back 8,700 flats since the current-term administration assumed office. These cases include tenants who had leased their flats online for up to HK$6,000 or turned them into a gym business, she said. The number of flats that had been resumed showed the government's execution capabilities and determination in combating tenancy abuses. The housing chief went on to say that the city's first light public housing project at Yau Pok Road in Yuen Long is almost fully occupied. The site, which offers about 2,150 units, has seen tenants moving in since March in batches. "I have already handed out more than 2,100 keys, some of them have moved in, while others are arranging a move," Ho said. "I believe it will be fully occupied in no time." Ho said the first batch of tenants at another similar project on Choi Hing Road in Ngau Tau Kok would be able to start moving in at the end of June. The project is another first-phase light public housing project and has around 2,290 units. Looking ahead, Ho said the government will look into various ways to save on construction cost for public housing projects in the future, such as adopting direct purchases for structures built using modular integrated construction method.
