Over 1,300 public housing units recovered due to tenancy abuse: Winnie Ho

Over 9,000 public rental housing units were recovered by the government last year, more than 1,300 of which were taken back because of tenancy abuse and other violations, Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho Wing-yin said. 

In her blog published Thursday, Ho said the Housing Authority's public housing resources management sub-section inspected over 13,000 units last year on tenants' occupation, income, and assets declaration. 

From the year 2021/22 to this July, about 400 units were recovered following completed appeal procedures.   

Over the past year, about 9,000 units were also recovered due to various reasons, including tenants buying government-subsidized housing units or tenants returning the units to authorities themselves. 

Among these units, 1,300 were taken back because of tenancy abuse and tenancy agreement violations, including subletting, non-domestic usage, or false declaration. 

The housing chief added she and her colleagues will strengthen communications with other departments that contain citizens' information to further combat tenancy abuse in public housing. 

Ho encouraged citizens to report suspected tenancy abuse cases by dialing 2712 2712, filing a report online, contacting the public housing estate office, or emailing phrm.eform@housingauthority.gov.hk. 

She also warned it is an offense to knowingly make false statements on the declaration form and the maximum penalty upon conviction carries a HK$50,000 fine and six months imprisonment.