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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Two new misdeeds included in the Marking Scheme for Estate Management in Public Housing Estates will take effect tomorrow (January 1, 2008).
The new misdeeds are :
(a) Illegal gambling in public places (five points) ; and
(b) Using leased premises for illegal purposes (seven points).
The Housing Authority's (HA) Subsidised Housing Committee endorsed in October this year (2007) the inclusion of the two new misdeeds in the marking scheme in response to increasing aspirations of public housing tenants and the public for a more pleasant living environment.
Street gambling arouses grave concerns among local residents and the management due to its adverse impact on the living environment and public order, a spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) said.
"The inclusion of 'illegal gambling in public places' in the marking scheme aims at tightening control over such activities," he explained.
From January 1, concerned households will be allotted five points without warning upon conviction under the Gambling Ordinance.
The illegal use of a public housing estate (PHE) flat constitutes a serious breach of leasing conditions which may result in termination of tenancy. However, if the offender is an unauthorised occupant and the tenant has no knowledge of the illegal use of the flat, HD may lack legal grounds to terminate the lease.
To strengthen HD's tenancy management, the spokesman explained that it was necessary to include "using leased premises for illegal purposes" in the marking scheme with seven points allotment without warning.
Under the marking scheme, when 16 points have been allotted to a household within two years, the subject tenancy will be terminated.
The marking scheme has proved to be an effective mechanism for improving environmental hygiene and estate management, the spokesman said.
"Since its implementation in August 2003, sustained improvement in environmental hygiene and estate management has been achieved," he said.
The Public Housing Recurrent Survey conducted by the HD showed that tenants' satisfaction with estate cleanliness has increased from 52% in 2003 to 71% in 2007.
Since the introduction of the Marking Scheme, 7,089 cases, involving 6,750 households, have been allotted points. Among them, 262 households or 3.9% have accrued 10 points or more due to commitment of two or more misdeeds.
Ends/Monday, December 31, 2007
Issued at HKT 16:20
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