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Public housing applicant fined for knowingly making false statement
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     A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (September 17) reminded all applicants for public rental housing (PRH) to declare honestly their income and assets, as failure to do so may result in prosecution as well as the cancellation of their application.  
 
     An applicant for PRH was convicted and fined $2,000 by the Magistrates' Courts last month for making a false statement on the application form by concealing the cash value and bonus income of his insurance policy.
 
     "The HD always spares no effort in combating abuses of public housing resources while its Public Housing Resources Management Sub-section (PHRM) strictly examines the declarations of income and assets made by PRH applicants through random checks to prevent abuse of public housing resources," the spokesman said.
 
     The PRH application was registered in December 2012. The applicant was invited to attend a detailed eligibility vetting interview by the Applications Sub-section in July 2016, which he passed, and was confirmed eligible for flat allocation. His application was then referred to the Lettings Unit for flat allocation.
 
     A random check on the application in November 2016 by the PHRM revealed that the applicant failed to honestly declare on the PRH application form in 2012 and on the applicant's declaration form during the detailed eligibility vetting in July 2016 an insurance policy with cash value and bonus income which he possessed before the submission of his application.
 
     The HD in February 2017 cancelled his PRH application on the grounds of providing false information. As the applicant was suspected of providing false information in contravention of Section 26 (1) (c) of the Housing Ordinance, the HD, following established procedures, passed the case to its Prosecution Unit for further action. 
 
     The case was heard at the court last month. The applicant pleaded guilty and was fined $2,000.
 
     "PRH applicants are required to read the Application Guide carefully, which is provided with the application form before submitting the application. The application form requires applicants to declare that they have carefully read and understood the Application Guide before completing the form, and to declare that all the information provided is true and correct. During the detailed vetting interview, HD staff will also caution applicants not to make false statement in their submission of applications," the spokesman said.
 
     He reminded PRH applicants that making a false statement on the application form is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of a fine of $50,000 and a six months' imprisonment.
 
Ends/Sunday, September 17, 2017
Issued at HKT 10:00
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