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Public housing residents convicted by court for false statement
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     A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (May 10) reminded tenants of public housing estates to declare truthfully their income and assets.

     The HD always spares no effort in combating abuses of public housing resources. Recently, two public rental housing (PRH) residents who understated employment income and did not declare landed property ownership to the HD were prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information specified in a declaration form.

     In the first case, a PRH resident at Po Tat Estate did not include irregular income (i.e. the bonus and allowance earned in the reporting period) as part of his average monthly income when filling in an income declaration form. After investigation, the resident was prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information specified in the income declaration form, contrary to Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of $14,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court yesterday (May 9).

     In the second case, a PRH resident at Yau Tong Estate did not declare industrial property ownership and its net value on an asset declaration form. After completing the investigation, the resident was prosecuted for neglecting to furnish information specified in the asset declaration form, contrary to Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance. The defendant was convicted and ordered to pay a fine of $15,000 at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Court yesterday.

     Pursuant to the prevailing policy of the HD, tenants who have been living in PRH for 10 years or more are required to declare their household income in a biennial cycle. Those with a household income exceeding the corresponding Subsidy Income Limits are required to pay 1.5 times or double net rent plus rates as appropriate. Tenants paying double net rent plus rates have to declare assets at the next cycle of declaration. Those who opt not to declare, or whose total household asset value exceeds the prescribed Net Assets Limits, are required to vacate their public housing flats.

     The spokesman said that households should complete the income and asset declaration forms accurately, which forms the foundation for assessment of rent. Before making the declarations, households should read the content and completion guidelines of the income and asset declaration form carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified. Otherwise, they may contravene Section 26(1)(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $50,000 fine and imprisonment for six months) or Section 27(a) of the Housing Ordinance (if convicted, the maximum penalty is a $25,000 fine and imprisonment for three months).

     Notwithstanding the above, the HD will take action to recover the undercharged rent incurred due to the inaccurate information.

Ends/Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:33

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