Factory Marking Scheme takes effect
*********************************** The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority :
A Marking Scheme for tenancy enforcement in Housing Authority (HA) factory estates takes effect today (September 1) with a two-week grace period.
A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) stressed that the objective of the scheme was to adopt a more stringent and objective measure to deal with the irregularities generally found in factory estates with a view to strengthening tenancy enforcement.
"The scheme targets at offences associate with abuse in use of the factory unit and common areas, or have adverse effects on building control, fire safety and environmental hygiene or pose a hazard to public safety," he said.
Penalty points will be allotted according to the degree of seriousness of offences and will be held valid for two years. Tenants will be alerted once the accrued points reached 10 or above. Action for tenancy termination by the HA will be triggered off when the marks accumulate to 16.
The offences and the points to be allotted are as below :
Offences Points
(a) Obstructing or unauthorized occupation of 5
corridors or common areas
(b) Denying the landlord entry for inspection and repair 5
(c) Unauthorized installations and structures 7
(d) Storage of excessive dangerous goods 7
(e) Using factory unit for food factory purpose 7
(f) Conversion of factory unit into other unauthorized 7
uses including domestic use
The Authority's Commercial Properties Committee endorsed in April to introduce the Factory Marking Scheme to tackle the unsatisfactory obstructions and unauthorized occupation of common areas in HA factory estates.
Following a consultation launched in May to gauge the views of the factory operators and tenants, the HD has made minor adjustments to the scheme.
"To address the operational need of tenants for loading and unloading of goods, time allowed for the loading and unloading of goods and removal of the same will be extended from 24 hours to 48 hours," the spokesman said.
On tenants' concern over ex-gratia allowance (EGA), the Department will issue a letter informing tenants that EGA payable upon clearance will not be jeopardized by the scheme.
*********************************** The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority :
A Marking Scheme for tenancy enforcement in Housing Authority (HA) factory estates takes effect today (September 1) with a two-week grace period.
A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) stressed that the objective of the scheme was to adopt a more stringent and objective measure to deal with the irregularities generally found in factory estates with a view to strengthening tenancy enforcement.
"The scheme targets at offences associate with abuse in use of the factory unit and common areas, or have adverse effects on building control, fire safety and environmental hygiene or pose a hazard to public safety," he said.
Penalty points will be allotted according to the degree of seriousness of offences and will be held valid for two years. Tenants will be alerted once the accrued points reached 10 or above. Action for tenancy termination by the HA will be triggered off when the marks accumulate to 16.
The offences and the points to be allotted are as below :
Offences Points
(a) Obstructing or unauthorized occupation of 5
corridors or common areas
(b) Denying the landlord entry for inspection and repair 5
(c) Unauthorized installations and structures 7
(d) Storage of excessive dangerous goods 7
(e) Using factory unit for food factory purpose 7
(f) Conversion of factory unit into other unauthorized 7
uses including domestic use
The Authority's Commercial Properties Committee endorsed in April to introduce the Factory Marking Scheme to tackle the unsatisfactory obstructions and unauthorized occupation of common areas in HA factory estates.
Following a consultation launched in May to gauge the views of the factory operators and tenants, the HD has made minor adjustments to the scheme.
"To address the operational need of tenants for loading and unloading of goods, time allowed for the loading and unloading of goods and removal of the same will be extended from 24 hours to 48 hours," the spokesman said.
On tenants' concern over ex-gratia allowance (EGA), the Department will issue a letter informing tenants that EGA payable upon clearance will not be jeopardized by the scheme.
Ends/Thursday, September 1, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:23
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