A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (March 4) said that the HD always spares no effort in combating false declarations made during applications for public rental housing (PRH). A PRH applicant who made a false statement was sentenced to one month's imprisonment (suspended for 12 months) today.

     The PRH applicant declared his marital status as married in a declaration in respect of admission to PRH in 2018. Subsequent investigation revealed that he was in fact proceeding with divorce. He intentionally concealed his marital status so that he could acquire a PRH flat.

     The applicant was prosecuted for knowingly making a false statement in respect of his application for PRH contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Housing Ordinance. After two days of trial, he was convicted earlier at the Kwun Tong Magistrates' Courts. After considering the gravity of the offence and the Community Service Orders Suitability Report, the defendant was sentenced to one month's imprisonment (suspended for 12 months).

     The spokesman reminded all PRH applicants that if any persons are convicted by the courts for making a false statement knowingly during a PRH application contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Housing Ordinance, the maximum penalty is a fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for six months. The PRH application concerned will be cancelled while any allocated PRH unit will be recovered by the HD. 

Ends/Monday, March 4, 2024
Issued at HKT 18:10

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