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The following is issued on behalf of the Housing Authority:
A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (November 4) reminded public rental housing (PRH) tenants to give accurate and true information pursuant to a requisition under the Housing Ordinance, stressing that any person who knowingly makes any false statement shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of $50,000 and six months' imprisonment.
A PRH tenant was convicted upon his guilty plea and fined a total of $20,000 at the Tsuen Wan Magistracy on November 2 for making false statement knowingly in declaring his biennial income and assets under the Housing Authority (HA) policy. The public housing flat concerned was subsequently recovered.
Under the current HA policy, the tenant was required to declare household income and assets biennially for verification of his eligibility to continue occupying the public housing flat and for assessment of the rent payment level.
In May 2005, he made false statement in declaring to HA of the net asset value. Subsequent investigation by HD staff confirmed that the tenant had a net asset far beyond what he declared. The tenant was then prosecuted by HD under the Housing Ordinance.
"The department adopts a zero tolerance policy against any false declarations. PRH tenants are required to provide accurate and true information. HD would carry out investigation in suspicious cases and institute prosecution action as appropriate," said the spokesman.
Ends/Saturday, November 4, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:04
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