Hong Kong’s home affairs minister has urged landlords against “fishing in troubled waters” by raising rents to pocket government subsidies meant to help displaced residents of the Tai Po fire.
The appeal came days after the government announced it would provide affected homeowners of the Wang Fuk Court fire with an annual rental subsidy of HK$150,000 (US$19,280) for the next two years.
“I hate to use the term, but it seems there are some landlords in the district, as some people also say, who try to fish in troubled waters,” Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen told a radio programme on Saturday.
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“When [the landlords] see that the government will provide a rental subsidy, they take advantage of it and raise rents.
“I can understand it is a market response. But I hope the landlords can also understand that the subsidy is for helping the fire victims find suitable accommodation in the Tai Po district.
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“I hope the landlords can appreciate the needs of the Wang Fuk Court fire victims and not raise rents significantly.”