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The Housing Department provides a free service for processing applications for public rental housing (PRH) with a pledge of keeping the average waiting time at about three years.
"As there are insufficient PRH units in the urban area that can be allocated to applicants on the Waiting List (WL), applicants with a registration date falling after September 30, 2004 without joining one of the Elderly Priority Schemes can only choose a PRH unit in the non-urban areas," a spokesman for the department said today (September 2).
The spokesman made the statement in the light of a report in a weekly magazine saying that assistance could be provided in securing a PRH unit in return for a reward.
"The Housing Authority maintains a WL of applicants. Allocation of public housing units is handled strictly in accordance with the order of priority of the applications on the WL and the applicant's choice of district," the spokesman said, adding that reasons such as poor health or unsatisfactory living conditions will not justify an early allocation.
"Applicants wishing to be considered on compassionate grounds should approach the Social Welfare Department for recommendation under the Compassionate Rehousing Category," he added.
Stressing that the Housing Department would not tolerate any corruption activities in its business, the spokesman said that "it is also an offence to offer any bribe or inducement to Housing Department staff and any such offer will result in the application concerned being cancelled in addition to any action which may be taken by the ICAC."
The spokesman also urged applicants to give accurate and true information. Under the Housing Ordinance, any person who knowingly makes any false statement in respect of an application for public housing will be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
"The HA may terminate a tenancy granted to any person who has made false statements in his or her application for public housing. The termination of tenancy is irrespective of whether or not the tenant has been charged or convicted of the relevant offence," he added.
Application Forms and Information for applicants leaflets can be obtained free of charge at all public housing estate offices, District Offices, Housing Information Centre and the Public Rental Housing Application Sub-section of the Housing Department.
Members of the public can also download application details by browsing the HA/HD website at http://www.housingauthority.gov.hk.
Ends/Saturday, September 2, 2006
Issued at HKT 10:57
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