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The Housing Department will assign four special squads to combat illegal cooked food hawking at public rental housing (PRH) estates over the Lunar New Year holidays targeting black spots in Kowloon, Kwai Chung and Sha Tin.
"Illegal hawking poses serious obstruction problem over the festive period which is a popular time for shopping and eating," the Assistant Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Lai Ip-cheung said.
He reminded PRH tenants that "Illegal hawking of cooked food" and "Smoking or carrying a lit cigarette in public lift" had been included as additional offences under the Marking Scheme for Tenancy Enforcement in PRH Estates (Marking Scheme) taking effect from January 1 this year.
"Seven penalty points will be incurred for illegal hawking of cooked food and five penalty points for smoking or carrying a lit cigarette in public lift," Mr Lai said.
At present, five PRH households have been allotted five points each for smoking or carrying a lit cigarette in public lift.
Four other PRH households have been charged with illegal hawking of cooked food. If convicted, they will each be allotted seven points.
When 16 points had been allotted to a household within two years, the tenancy would be terminated.
Mr Lai also reminded tenants that should their tenancies be terminated under the Marking Scheme, they would be barred from applying for public rental housing through the General Waiting List for two years from the date of termination of previous tenancy.
"They will not be offered a flat of better quality in respect of geographical locality, age of building and floor level upon rehousing," he said.
Mr Lai encouraged tenants to contact their estate management offices to report hawking activities and called on tenants not to buy from illegal cooked food hawkers because the food prepared was not hygienic and illegal cooked food hawking was harmful to the environment in the estates.
"Tenants living near these black spots where dozens of hawkers operate until late at night are greatly annoyed by the nuisance," he said.
He also reminded vehicle owners that illegally parked vehicles in common areas of PRH estates would be impounded and owners would be subject to a penalty fine of $320.
"Improving the overall hygiene conditions of all PRH estates is a sustainable effort which needs the full support and co-operation of tenants. We will do our very best to maintain the awareness of cleanliness among PRH tenants during the festive season," he said.
Ends/Friday, January 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:01
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