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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
Two new misdeeds will be included in the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement in Public Housing Estates to further improve the living environment and management of public housing estates (PHEs).
The Housing Authority's Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) today (October 16) endorsed the inclusion of following two new misdeeds taking effect on January 1, 2008:
(a) Illegal gambling in public places (5 points); and
(b) Using leased premises for illegal purpose (7 points).
"Street gambling arouses grave concerns among local residents and the management due to its adverse impacts on the living environment and public order," committee chairman Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung said.
Professor Cheung said that although the Housing Department had been exerting great efforts to deter these unlawful acts, relapses were not uncommon.
To tighten control over such activities within PHEs, members of the committee decided at today's meeting to include "Illegal gambling in public places" in the Marking Scheme.
Upon conviction under the Gambling Ordinance, concerned households will be allotted 5 points without warning.
The use of a PHE flat for illegal use constitutes a serious breach of leasing conditions. According to existing policy, the Housing Department will terminate the lease when the tenant or authorised occupant was convicted of using the premise for an illegal purpose upon proof that the tenant knew about the illegal use.
"If the offender however is an authorised occupant only and the tenant has no knowledge of the illegal use of the flat, it may be inappropriate on legal grounds to serve a Notice-to-Quit (NTQ)," Professor Cheung said.
In the past three years, a total of 71 cases concerning illegal use of leased premises were found while the department had issued only 44 NTQs to the tenants.
"To strengthen the department's tenancy management action, it is necessary to include 'Using leased premises for illegal purposes'in the Marking Scheme with 7 points allotment without warning," he said.
"The Marking Scheme has proved to be an effective mechanism for improving the environmental hygiene and estate management," Professor Cheung said, adding that the new misdeeds were added in response to increasing public concern and aspirations for a more pleasant living environment.
Since the implementation of the Marking Scheme in August, 2003, sustained improvement in environmental hygiene of PHEs had been achieved.
Members of the committee noted the findings of the latest Public Housing Recurrent Survey which revealed that tenants' satisfaction over estate cleanliness has increased from 52% in 2003 to 71% in 2007.
"Ninety six per cent of our tenants are aware of the Marking Scheme while 81% have expressed that the scheme can improve the cleanliness of PHEs. The penalty is considered reasonable by 70% of them," Professor Cheung said.
Until the beginning of this month, 6,564 points-allotted cases involving 6,270 households had accumulated. Among them, 238 households or 3.8% have accrued 10 points or more due to commitment of two or more misdeeds. When 16 points have been allotted to a household within two years, the subject tenancy will be terminated.
"Littering" and "Spitting in public areas" continue to be the two most frequently committed misdeeds involving 4,338 and 1,073 points-allotted cases respectively.
So far, 12 households have accrued 16 or more points. Two households surrendered their flats voluntarily. The remaining 10 households were served with NTQs. A total of eight flats were recovered.
Ends/Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:48
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