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In five years, 56 complaints about overcharging of water charges in subdivided housing units were received. Only one case was prosecuted. 94% of the cases were accused of insufficient evidence.

2022-04-11T11:22:48.332Z


The problem of subdivided housing in Hong Kong is serious, and many tenants will be overcharged by landlords for water bills. In reply to a written question from the Special Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, the Development Bureau revealed that in the past five years, the Water Supplies Department had received a total of 56 reports of suspected overcharging of water charges in subdivided housing units


The problem of subdivided housing in Hong Kong is serious, and many tenants will be overcharged by landlords for water bills.

In reply to a written question from the Special Finance Committee of the Legislative Council, the Development Bureau revealed that in the past five years, the Water Supplies Department had received a total of 56 reports of suspected overcharging of water charges by subdivided housing units, but only 1 case was prosecuted, and about 94% were charged for insufficient water charges. evidence, so no prosecution could be brought.


In the past five years, the Water Supplies Department has received a total of 56 reports suspected of being overcharged in subdivided housing.

(file picture)

According to the Development Bureau, from 2017 to 2021, the Water Supplies Department has received a total of 56 reports of suspected overcharging of water charges in subdivided housing units, and has followed up and investigated each case.

So far, only one case has been prosecuted, while two cases are still under investigation.

The remaining cases were not prosecuted due to insufficient evidence.

Water Supplies Department receives 1,500 enquiries

The Water Supplies Department said that it has always been very concerned about whether there are excessive water charges. In addition to following up on reported or complained cases, it will also take the initiative to conduct surprise inspections on subdivided flats to increase the deterrent effect of excessive water charges.

From March 2021, the Department has added a shortcut key to the 24-hour customer service hotline to facilitate enquiries about excessive water charges in subdivided housing units.

As of February this year, about 1,500 related inquiries had been received.

In addition, in order to facilitate the installation of independent water meters in subdivided flats, the Water Supplies Department launched a pilot scheme in June last year to simplify the procedures and requirements for installing water meters of the Water Supplies Department in each subdivided flat that already has an independent water supply system.

From the launch of the pilot scheme to the end of February this year, the Department has received 14 applications for installing independent water meters for subdivided flats.

The Water Supplies Department said that from June 2021 to the end of February this year, it has received 14 applications for installing independent water meters for subdivided flats.

(file picture)

The leakage rate of government drinking water pipes accounts for 15% of the total drinking water consumption

The Development Bureau also revealed that in 2021, the number of leakage cases in government water pipes will reach 6,153, an increase of 0.6% year-on-year.

The Department does not have statistics on the number of leaks from private water pipes.

The leakage rates of government and private drinking water pipes accounted for about 15% and 9% of the total drinking water consumption respectively.

As for the Water Supplies Department's expenditure on water main improvement works, it will reach $1.15 billion in 2021/22, which is $290 million more than the 2020/21 figure of $860 million, while the annual expenditure on water main repair works is about $100 million. The cost of the pipeline network so far is about $320 million.

Earlier, the government proposed to increase the commitment of 12 billion yuan to the anti-epidemic fund, but did not list the expenditure of each project.

(File photo/Photo by Li Zetong)

Total expenses of makeshift hospitals not provided

In addition, when asked about the expenditure on public works projects carried out in the northern metropolitan area, the Development Bureau said that many parts are still under preliminary planning and have not yet entered the stage of project approval, so they cannot provide relevant project expenditures.

Earlier, the government injected an anti-epidemic fund of 12 billion yuan for the construction of anti-epidemic facilities. When asked about the estimated expenditure on relevant community isolation and treatment facilities or temporary hospitals, the Development Bureau said that due to the emergency, the 12 billion yuan was preliminary. Estimates, specific breakdowns and information about the project are yet to be consolidated.

Buildings frequently appear vertical transmission surveyors remind regular inspections of pipes and urge the government to support the rent management of subdivided housing in Sanwu Buildings | 619 leases were processed within two months of entry into force. Liang Zichao: Don't be shocked and can't get the budget | Qu Gui has not been upstairs for 4 years after renting a subdivided house

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2022-04-11

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