New measures under Housing (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 to combat abuse of public rental housing take effect today
The new measures under the Housing (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 to combat abuse of public rental housing (PRH) have come into effect today (March 31). The measures include: (i) introducing new offences of "serious tenancy abuse of PRH flats"; (ii) empowering authorised officers to demand personal information from suspicious individuals; and (iii) extending the prosecution time limit for offences involving false statements, refusal to furnish information and unlawful alienations.
The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, said, ''The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) keeps on enhancing its policies to ensure that public housing resources are targeted to those in greatest need. The Housing (Amendment) Ordinance 2025demonstrates the steadfast commitment of the Government and the HA to making good use of public housing resources, combining legislative and administrative measures to tackle serious abuse."
The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, Photo source: FB@Winnie Ho
The HA has stepped up its publicity efforts through television programmes, newspapers, social media, leaflets, posters and other channels, and has organised exchange sessions with district councillors to ensure PRH tenants and members of the public fully understand the strengthened measures against abuse of PRH.
The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA), Photo source: reference image
Swimming pool complexes to open from April 1 for new swimming season
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today (March 31) that for the upcoming swimming season, 44 public swimming pool complexes will open for public use tomorrow (April 1). Individual swimming pools to be temporarily closed in specified periods in 2026 for maintenance works are set out in the Annex. Swimmers should mind their safety, care for themselves and others, and keep the swimming pools clean and hygienic while enjoying the fun of swimming.
From April to October, LCSD swimming pools will open daily from 6.30am to 10pm in three sessions with two one-hour breaks. Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open daily from 8.30am to 6pm in two sessions (and in one session from 7pm to 10pm on Fridays (Note)).
For the 19 pool complexes with both heated and non-heated swimming facilities, the heated facilities will continue to open from April 1 to 15. The non-heated facilities will open for public use from April 16.
The 19 swimming pool complexes are:
Hong Kong Island:
District |
Swimming Pool Complex |
-------- |
----------------------- |
Central and Western |
Kennedy Town Swimming Pool |
Wan Chai |
Morrison Hill Swimming Pool |
Kowloon:
District |
Swimming Pool Complex |
-------- |
----------------------- |
Kowloon City |
Ho Man Tin Swimming Pool |
Kowloon Tsai Swimming Pool |
Wong Tai Sin |
Hammer Hill Road Swimming Pool |
Morse Park Swimming Pool |
Kwun Tong |
Kwun Tong Swimming Pool |
Sham Shui Po |
Lai Chi Kok Park Swimming Pool |
Yau Tsim Mong |
Kowloon Park Swimming Pool |
New Territories:
District |
Swimming Pool Complex |
-------- |
----------------------- |
Islands |
Tung Chung Swimming Pool |
North |
Fanling Swimming Pool |
Sha Tin |
Hin Tin Swimming Pool |
Sha Tin Jockey Club Swimming Pool |
Tsuen Wan |
Shing Mun Valley Swimming Pool |
Tuen Mun |
Tuen Mun Swimming Pool |
Tuen Mun North West Swimming Pool |
Yuen Long |
Yuen Long Swimming Pool |
Tin Sau Road Swimming Pool |
Sai Kung |
Tseung Kwan O Swimming Pool |
To maintain the hygiene of public swimming pools, each pool will be closed for a thorough cleaning once a week, in addition to the regular daily cleaning. The thorough cleaning will be conducted on a designated weekday (Monday to Friday) from 10am to the end of the second session. If the designated day falls on a public holiday, the cleaning will be rescheduled to another weekday in the same week.
To ensure a clean environment for public swimming pools, swimmers should maintain personal hygiene and observe the pool rules, including the following points:
(a) Swimmers should shower before entering the pool deck;
(b) Swimmers should walk through the shower bath and footbath;
(c) Swimmers should not go swimming if they feel unwell and should seek medical consultation early;
(d) Swimmers are advised to use the toilet before swimming and should not urinate or defecate in the pools. They should leave the water immediately and use the toilet if they have to vomit; and
(e) Parents should teach their children about the importance of maintaining personal and public hygiene.
Holders of the public swimming pool monthly ticket are encouraged to apply for monthly ticket smart cards, which are printed with the card holder's photo and preloaded with information on the validity period. The smart cards enable holders to enter the pools easily and conveniently without having to produce documentary proof of identity. Interested monthly ticket holders can apply for smart cards free of charge. For details, please visit the webpage www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swim-ticket.html.
For details of the opening arrangements and the schedule of the weekly cleaning operations of public swimming pools, please visit the webpagewww.lcsd.gov.hk/en/beach/swim-intro/swimlocation.html.
Note: Mui Wo Swimming Pool will open from 8.30am to 6pm in two sessions on April 3 (public holiday).
Source: AI-found images
