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The Housing Department (HD) reminds tenants celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival that burning wax in the common areas of Public Rental Housing (PRH) estates may cause their households to be allotted penalty points under the Estate Management Marking Scheme and a fine of $1,500 for littering.
"We are glad to see that problems of wax burning and littering caused by thoughtless tenants celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival abated last year, but still we will strengthen our patrolling force during the festive days this year," an HD spokesman said today (September 10).
"We would also urge parents to stop their children from burning wax as this is a hazardous act which may cause fire and severe burns. Minors found burning wax by patrolling staff will be given a verbal warning. Their parents will be contacted if the warnings are to no avail. The household might then be allotted five penalty points. The tenancy will be terminated if 16 points or more have been allotted within two years," he added.
From tomorrow until Tuesday (September 11 to 13), about 400 additional staff from the Department's Mobile Operations Unit and Regional Patrol Teams will be deployed to patrol PRH estates beyond midnight. Additional cleaning workers will also be arranged to clean the estates' public areas in the early morning following the festival day.
Last year a total of 11 fixed penalty notices of $1,500 were issued and more than 600 verbal warnings were given for people littering or burning wax in common areas of PRH estates during the festival period. Another nine households were allotted penalty points.
Messages cautioning tenants against wax-burning have been disseminated through estate newsletters, posters and the Housing Channel.
The spokesman called for tenants' support by reporting any misdeeds to estate offices or the Housing Authority Hotline on 2712 2712.
Ends/Saturday, September 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:01
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