The Government welcomed the passage of the Housing (Amendment) Bill 2025, which seeks to combat tenancy abuse more effectively and thus ensure the prudent use of public housing resources, by the Legislative Council today.

The series of measures includes introducing new offences of serious tenancy abuse of public rental housing (PRH) flats; empowering authorised officers to demand personal details from suspects; and extending the limitation of time for prosecution of offences of false statements, refusal to furnish information and unlawful alienations.

Meanwhile, the amendment ordinance also empowers the Director of Housing to specify the forms for the fixed penalty notice and demand notice to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of the Housing Authority (HA) in combating unauthorised use of roads within housing estates.

Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho said public housing is a precious social resource that must be allocated to those in genuine need and utilised in a reasonable manner.

She noted that the series of measures to be implemented under the amendment ordinance reflects the Government's determination to combat abuse of PRH flats. The HA will continue to enhance its policies to ensure that public housing resources are focused on helping those in greatest need.

The legislation as passed will be published in a gazette on June 20. The amendment empowering the Director of Housing to specify the forms of notices will come into operation upon gazettal. The other three new measures will take effect from March 31, 2026, onwards.

The HA will step up publicity efforts to ensure that PRH tenants and members of the public understand the contents of the new package of measures in combating PRH abuse, the Government added.