Ombudsman flags illegal parking problem in public housing estates

Jamie Liu

The Office of the Ombudsman has urged the Housing Department to strengthen enforcement efforts against illegal parking in public housing estates when it was uncovered that such violations were blocking emergency access.

A direct investigation into the department's handling of the issue saw the office inspecting four estates in Tuen Mun, Tsing Yi, Kwai Chung and Fanling, where geographical constraints make it infeasible to install barrier gates in all vehicular access.

In its findings, released yesterday, the Ombudsman discovered illegally parked vehicles in all four locations, including Yau Oi Estate, Cheung Hong Estate and Queens Hill Estate.

During a night-time inspection at the fourth location, Lai Yiu Estate, the watchdog found what it suspects to be more than 30 illegally parked vehicles, including one close to emergency vehicular access.

"Our site inspections revealed prolonged illegal parking of many vehicles in public housing estates at night; some of these vehicles may even obstruct emergency vehicles," Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi said.

"The situation is unsatisfactory."

The office made 12 recommendations to the Housing Department, including formulating enforcement strategies, strengthening collaboration with police, and setting key performance indicators for security service contractors in their follow-up actions.

The department agreed and accepted the watchdog's suggestions, vowing to keep enhancing its existing measures against illegal parking, especially to ensure emergency vehicular access remains unobstructed.

A department spokesman said: "[We will] make timely manpower deployments and increase resources, actively explore the use of innovative technologies to enhance management effectiveness, and collaborate with other government departments to conduct joint operations."

jamie.liu@singtaonewscorp.com