The Marking Scheme for Estate Management Enforcement has been in place for almost 10 years and it is extremely effective in curbing misdeeds related to hygiene and estate management, as well as changing the behaviour of some of our more difficult public housing tenants. The main objective of the scheme is not to penalise people but to encourage them to behave in a civilised and thoughtful manner, thus to promote a harmonious living environment.

The figures speak for themselves. Among the 700 000 households in public housing estates, we have allotted points to 18 200 families and have only taken action against 57 households who have accrued 16 points or above in the past 10 years. To my mind, this demonstrates that we use the scheme appropriately. The fact is we have received continuous support from tenants and District Councillors, as the findings of the recent Public Housing Recurrent Survey show: a satisfaction level of 73% towards the overall cleanliness and hygienic condition of estate common areas.

Some people question why we adopt a policy to allot points to tenants rather than individual culprit. The answer is simple. We want families to be responsible for each other. It is clearly not feasible for us to take action against individuals, as the Housing Authority only has a direct relationship with the authorised tenants. In any case, action to terminate a tenancy is very much the very last resort. We take every opportunity to counsel and to change behaviour; indeed, an Assistant Housing Manager or Housing Manager will, in addition to serve an advisory letter to all adult members in a household, interview the tenant and the family member committing the misdeed in cases where the tenants have accumulated penalty scores of 10 to ensure that they are aware of the serious consequences of their misdeeds. In cases where there are family problems or individual concerns we will proactively refer the cases to the local Integrated Family Service Centre of the Social Welfare Department to seek other solutions rather then simply rely upon the Marking Scheme.

I believe the Marking Scheme has proved its worth. Although it is an effective tool, we do keep it under annual review to see if it is still fit for purpose. A tool like the Marking Scheme helps to ensure that our public housing estates are pleasant places in which to live. I also believe that the Marking Scheme provides the front line staff with an effective tool to help them in dealing with difficult cases.

We will continue to make use of the Marking Scheme, while making sure that we deal compassionately with our tenants having regard both to their family circumstances and the interests of the community in our public housing estates as a whole.

D W Pescod
Director of Housing

To promote service excellence in estate management, the Housing Authority (HA) has organised an annual event to commend contractors for their outstanding performance in the management of HA properties. The prize presentation ceremony of the Estate Management Services Contractors Awards 2012 was held at the Domain on 13 March.

The awardees this year include 12 services contractors and 6 estate managers. The estates under the “Best Public Rental Housing Estate (Property Services)” awards are Cheung Ching Estate, Ching Ho Estate, Tin Yiu (I) Estate, Tin Yiu (II) Estate, Sau Mau Ping South Estate, Shek Yam Estate and Sheung Lok Estate. In response to the change in management mode for some public housing estates, we have introduced a new prize of “Best Property Services Agent (Property Management Agent Contract)” this year (see the table attached for the full list of award winners).

Officiating at the prize presentation ceremony, Deputy Director of Housing (Estate Management) Albert Lee commended the award winners for their outstanding performance and encouraged contractors to continue providing quality services to the residents. As a new Customer Services Management System has been rolling out to all out-sourced estates, the Housing Department will organise training seminars for the property services contractors to enhance efficiency and service standard.

As an active participant of the annual Hong Kong Flower Show, the Housing Authority (HA) has designed for this year's event a landscape of "Home of Blossoms" which won the Gold Award for Outstanding Exhibit (Landscape Display).

Surrounded by plant walls of varied colours and beds of dazzling flowers, the HA’s “Home of Blossoms” is presented in an exquisite setting with an octagonal prism as a focal point. The prism produces an array of reflections under the sun, bringing visitors to a journey into a kaleidoscope where beautiful flowers grow in profusion. An arc-shaped roof, adorned with the theme flower Dendrobium and other vibrant flowers, provides shelter for people. The “Home of Blossoms” demonstrates the HA’s commitment to greening and environmental protection in providing cosy homes for its tenants.

Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Hong Kong Flower Show 2013 is open from 15 to 24 March between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm at Victoria Park, Causeway Bay. Don't forget to visit the HA's "Home of Blossoms" while you are there.

Many people bought potted citrus plants for the Lunar New Year to get good fortune. However, most of those plants were disposed of after the festival. In a bid to boost awareness of environmental protection among its tenants, the Housing Authority (HA) has launched a pilot scheme on collection and replanting of potted citrus plants.

The scheme was well received by the tenants, with 36 estates participating and over 1 000 pots of citrus plant collected. To equip the estate staff, the Estate Management Advisory Committee members, tree ambassadors and estate residents with the technical skills and knowledge for replanting the citrus plants, a talk organised by the Horticulture Unit of the Housing Department was held on 8 March at the Domain to share the valuable planting tips. An award presentation ceremony will be organised at the end of this year to recognise those who have actively participated in the pilot scheme and to provide an opportunity for tenants to share their experience in replanting.