Public rental housing applicant sentenced to imprisonment for making false statement
A public rental housing (PRH) tenant was sentenced to a total of 30 days' imprisonment for not declaring Hong Kong domestic property ownership in the PRH application, contrary to the Housing Ordinance. The PRH unit concerned has been recovered.
A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) today (October 22) reminded PRH residents and applicants to truthfully declare their income and assets.
The PRH tenant did not declare her ownership of domestic property in Hong Kong in two declaration forms submitted to the HD in 2018 and 2019 for PRH application, and thereby succeeded in obtaining a PRH unit in Shek Mun Estate.Subsequent investigation revealed that she owned a domestic property in Yuen Long and she would not be eligible for PRH application.
The tenant was prosecuted by the HD for knowingly making a false statement in respect of her PRH application, contrary to Section 26(1)(c) of the Housing Ordinance.She was convicted in the Shatin Magistrates' Courts earlier and was adjourned for sentence yesterday.Having considered the gravity of the offence and the precious PRH resources involved, the presiding magistrate considered that it was not suitable to make a community service order.She was sentenced to 20 days' imprisonment for each of the two summonses, with 10 days to be run concurrently. Thus, she was sentenced to a total of 30 days' imprisonment. Additionally, the HD recovered the PRH unit in May this year.
The spokesman reminded all PRH applicants that if they were convicted by the court for making false statement knowingly during 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.
The spokesman reiterated that, in general, the public recognises the HD's efforts in combating the abuse of public housing resources. The HD will continue to adopt multipronged and risk-based measures to comprehensively combat the abuse of PRH.
Expansion of Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong announced
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) announced today (October 22) that seven additional residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) (among which five are operated by Mainland organisations and two are operated under a partnership formed by Hong Kong organisations and Mainland elderly service operators), located in Guangzhou, Foshan and Zhongshan respectively, will become Recognised Service Providers under the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong starting from November 1 to provide subsidised care and attention places for elderly persons joining the Scheme.
The information of the additional RCHEs is as follows:
Name of RCHEs |
Location of RCHEs |
Guangzhou |
1.
|
Home For The Aged Nansha (Yinian Medical Senior Citizen)
|
North Side of Qilin Middle School, Huangge Town, Nansha District, Guangzhou
|
2. |
Yishou Enjoylife Elderly Care Guangdong Guangzhou Luhujiazhanghui Nursing Home Branch
|
64-1 Hengzhigang Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou
|
3. |
Guangzhou Tianyue Hexihui Home for the Elderly
|
6 Renrui New Street, Pazhou, Haizhu District, Guangzhou
|
4.
|
Guangzhou Chunxuanmao Chenchong Senior Living Service Co, Ltd
(Operated under the partnership formed by The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society Kowloon and a Mainland elderly service operator) |
200 Chenchong Road, Panyu District, Guangzhou |
Foshan |
5. |
Foshan Canopusland Co, Ltd
|
24 North Fenjiang Road, Chancheng District, Foshan
|
6.
|
Hetai Center
(Operated under the partnership formed by Jane's Home Limited and a Mainland elderly service operator)
|
3 Shuiyun Road, Junlan Community, Beijiao Town, Shunde District, Foshan |
Zhongshan |
7. |
Zhongshan Torch Development Zone Yikang Senior Services Center
|
Qiguan East Road, Torch Development Zone, Zhongshan
|
Taking into account the two RCHEs in Shenzhen, one in Foshan and one in Zhaoqing, the total number of RCHEs registered under the Scheme will increase to 11 in five Mainland cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to provide more choices for the elderly who are interested in retiring in Mainland cities in the GBA.
Details of the Scheme are available at the SWD website (
www.swd.gov.hk/en/pubsvc/elderly/cat_residentcare/subrcheplace/guangdong/index.html).
