Pair reportedly suffered from mental illnesses and were facing eviction before committing suicide
Hong Kong’s Housing Department has pledged to review its work procedures on public flat tenants with special needs after a mother and son, both reportedly suffering from mental illnesses and facing eviction, committed suicide.
Social workers and housing advisers said on Monday that authorities could improve administrative procedures to be more accommodating in such cases, and consider and streamline rehousing arrangements for them.
“It is reasonable to take back flats and combat the abuse of resources, but when it comes to cases with special circumstances, the government should be more accommodating and provide people-oriented arrangements,” said social welfare lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen.
More disputes about public rental housing eviction have arisen after the government stepped up efforts to combat the abuse of public housing resources two years ago, as the number of appeals rose from 861 in 2021-22 to 2,045 in 2024-25.
