Hong Kong to begin handing out HK$3,000 rewards for identifying public housing abuse

Hong Kong’s Housing Authority will award up to HK$3,000 (US$386) to individuals who provide information that allows the government to reclaim a misused public rental flat starting next week.

The city’s major public housing provider said on Wednesday that anyone aged 16 or above could join the reward scheme, but they must not be directly employed by the authority or its executive arm, the Housing Department.

Informants must provide their names and indicate their intention to join.

“The reports will be preliminarily assessed, and the informants will be interviewed by dedicated personnel to verify the accuracy of the information provided,” a spokesman for the authority said. “[The] cases for receiving rewards will be reviewed by an assessment panel.”

The panel, chaired by a directorate officer, would also examine complicated cases, such as ones involving more than one informant, and make the final decision.

The reward scheme will launch next Wednesday.