Lawmaker calls for clarity in public housing abuse definitions to protect innocent tenants

Lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit has urged for an improved appeal mechanism regarding the government’s proposal to classify “serious public housing abuse” as a criminal offense, warning that the current vague definition could “wrongfully punish innocent citizens.”

Speaking on a radio program on Wednesday, Yang, a member of the Legislative Council’s housing panel, raised concerns about whether common activities, such as livestream e-commerce or working from home, could be misinterpreted as serious abuses of public housing. 

He said the need for clearer guidelines to prevent misunderstandings that could lead to residents losing their flats.

Yang also said that some senior public housing tenants approached him for assistance after their flats were repossessed, unaware that their children owned other properties. 

He urged the government to consider individual family circumstances and exercise discretion in such cases to prevent elderly tenants from losing their homes.

“These cases are common, not isolated incidents,” he said, while agreeing that public housing should be reclaimed from those who deliberately conceal property ownership, calling such actions “deserving of punishment.”

Yang criticized the current appeal mechanism for being limited to specific reasons, such as bedridden status, mental incapacity, or psychiatric issues. 

He added that complex family dynamics often lead to misunderstandings regarding each other's financial situations. 

To ensure that those genuinely in need can retain their public housing units, he called for significant improvements to the appeal process.

(Adelyn Lau)