New batch of declarations for "Well-off Tenants Policies" and "Occupancy Status" commences
The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Housing Authority:
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has distributed the "Well-off Tenants Policies" (WTP) declaration forms and "Declaration Form on Occupancy Status" to approximately 210 000 public rental housing (PRH) tenants involved in the new batch of declaration cycle of WTP. A spokesman for the HA today (April 8) reminded the relevant tenants that they must return the completed forms to the Housing Department (HD) by May 31 this year.
Both declaration forms were delivered into the letter boxes of the tenants concerned on April 1. Tenants are required to declare their income, assets, and any domestic property ownership in Hong Kong in the WTP declaration forms, as well as confirm their regular and continuous residence in the PRH flats and report any left vacant or unauthorised use of the PRH flats in the "Declaration Form on Occupancy Status".
The spokesman reminded tenants and their family members that they must truthfully make declarations. Those who knowingly made false declarations may be prosecuted. Tenants should note the following key points:
(i) Tenants who refuse to declare will have their tenancies terminated;
(ii) Tenantsmust declare honestly to the HA their occupancy status, income, assets, and any domestic property ownership in Hong Kong; including any household members who have signed purchase agreements (including preliminary agreements) or acquired any domestic properties (including uncompleted flats), along with the expected date of assignment and completion of transactions;
(iii) PRH households whose tenancies are terminated due to abuse of PRH resources and breaches of the tenancy agreement, such as abandoning or subletting the units or using the units for illegal use, will be ineligible to apply for PRH for five years;
(iv) For households whose tenancies are terminated under the WTP due to ineligibility for continuous renting of PRH flats, the member(s) who have made false declarations will be subject to a five-year debarment from applying for PRH and are liable to prosecution;
Under the prevailing WTP, PRH tenants who have resided for 10 years are required to declare their income, assets and property ownership in Hong Kong every two years. Except for the aforesaid tenants, other tenants will receive declaration forms in later batches and do not need to worry.
For enquiries, tenants may contact their respective Estate Offices or call the HA Hotline at 2712 2712 or the HD's Public Housing Resources Management Sub-section Hotline at 35470881.
