HK$3,000 for reporting public housing abuse

People who report illegal public housing use can earn up to HK$3,000 starting from January 15 if their information helps authorities evict tenants who break the rules, the Housing Authority announced on Wednesday. In a statement, the authority said the Report Public Housing Abuse Award scheme aims to safeguard the use of public housing resources. People aged 16 or above can report any misuse through multiple channels, including online forms, hotlines, email and estate offices. An assessment panel will review cases and make final decisions, especially for complicated situations. The authority said the identities of informants will be kept confidential, though they must provide their real name when reporting and be interviewed. "Since the HA [Housing Authority] implemented new measures to enhance combating tenancy abuse, cases that are relatively easy to detect have been discovered. To identify remaining hidden cases, more investigative clues from the public are needed," the statement read.