Cash reward scheme for public housing abuser tip-offs begins next week

A government cash reward scheme offering HK$3,000 to people who provide tip-offs about public housing tenancy abuse will begin on January 15, the Hong Kong Housing Authority said on Wednesday.

Except for staff directly employed by the Housing Authority or the Housing Department, any person aged 16 or above who provides genuine and concrete information that leads to the department’s successful issuance of a Notice-to-Quit to households with tenancy abuse may join the Report Public Housing Abuse Award.

They will receive a certificate of appreciation and a maximum cash reward of HK$3,000.

The Authority said participants must provide their real names on the reports and indicate their intention to join the Award.

The reports will be preliminarily assessed, and the informants will be interviewed by dedicated personnel to verify the accuracy of the information provided. Participants, including those who make reports in non-prescribed formats, will be notified of the receipt of their report through an acknowledgment notice.

Persons interested in joining the Award may report tenancy abuse cases through various channels, including report aerograms, online forms, reporting hotlines, email, or simply by informing the estate offices.

According to the Authority, the identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential, while authorities will not disclose investigation details and results to informants.