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The Housing Department is deploying special squads to guard against illegal hawking in public rental housing estates over the Lunar New Year holidays, when unlicensed hawkers are usually more active.
"We will deploy four special teams comprising a total of 40 members to patrol public rental housing estates between tomorrow (February 17) and Tuesday (February 20). The teams will patrol black spots in various districts such as Upper and Lower Wong Tai Sin Estates near Wong Tai Sin Temple and Sun Chui Estate near Che Kung Miu in Sha Tin," the Acting Assistant Director of Housing (Estate Management), Mr Ma Kam-chuen, said today (February 16).
"As many restaurants and eateries are closed during Lunar New Year holidays, unlicensed hawkers will cash in on this opportunity to sell cooked food. We have to enforce stringent action because illegal hawking in public rental housing estates is not only causing obstruction in public places, but also creating hygiene nuisance for the environment," he said.
Mr Ma advised tenants not to patronise these hawkers because the food hygiene was very worrying. He urged tenants with any information on such activities to report to the estate office immediately.
"So far 25 public rental housing estate households have been allotted seven penalty points for the 'Illegal hawking of cooked food' under the Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement. Same penalty points will be allotted for 'Using leased premises as food factory or storage'," Mr Ma said.
He reminded tenants that when 16 points have been allotted to a household within two years, the tenancy would be terminated and that they would be barred from applying for public rental housing through the General Waiting List for two years from the date of termination of the previous tenancy.
Addressing the issue of unauthorised parking, which was also common during the festive season, Mr Ma said that estate management staff would be patrolling more frequently. He warned that any vehicles found parking in common areas of the estates without permission would be impounded and their owners would be subject to a penalty fine of $320.
Ends/Friday, February 16, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:01
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