8th January 2025 – (Hong Kong) A spokesperson for the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has confirmed that the arrangements for the new Report Public Housing Abuse Award will come into effect on 15th January, 2025. This initiative is designed to motivate the public to report instances of tenancy abuse and ensure the responsible use of public housing resources.
The HA’s Subsidised Housing Committee approved the Cherish Public Housing Resources Award Scheme on 31st December, 2024. The Award will officially launch on the specified date. If individuals report tenancy abuse cases before the launch, and if these reports are from informants with verified identities, ongoing investigations will be assessed. Should the evidence support the claims, the informants will be contacted to confirm their participation in the Award scheme.
Participation is open to anyone aged 16 and older, excluding staff directly employed by the HA and the Housing Department. Participants must provide credible information leading to a successful Notice-to-Quit (NTQ) issuance against tenants engaged in abuse. To qualify for the cash rewards, informants must disclose their real names and indicate their intention to join the Award.
Individuals wishing to report tenancy abuse can do so through various channels, including report aerogrammes, an online form available on the HA/HD website, dedicated hotlines, email communications, or direct visits to estate offices.
To encourage public involvement, the HA will offer a certificate of appreciation and cash rewards of up to HK$3,000 for those who provide information resulting in a successful NTQ against abusive tenants. To ensure the integrity of the program, all reports submitted for rewards will undergo scrutiny by an Assessment Panel. This panel, chaired by a senior officer, will also handle more complex cases, particularly those with multiple informants claiming responsibility for a single NTQ.
To raise awareness about the Award, the HA plans to disseminate information widely through various media, including posters in public housing estates, animated videos, and broadcasts on the Housing Channel. This outreach aims to encourage participation from the public as well as residents of public rental housing.
The spokesperson emphasized the importance of confidentiality, stating that the identities of informants will be strictly protected. Additionally, the HA and Housing Department will not disclose any details regarding the investigations to the informants.
As new measures have been implemented to tackle tenancy abuse, several easily identifiable cases have come to light. However, to uncover remaining hidden abuses, the HA is seeking more leads from the public. This Award scheme is part of a broader strategy to encourage community involvement in reporting tenancy abuse and to safeguard the appropriate use of public rental housing resources.
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