Households with genuine difficulties, such as mental health crises, are all the more reason for the government to adopt a sensitive approach
There can be no dispute that the pair had breached the declaration rules; they were found to have failed to report two assets between 2015 and 2017. But questions are being asked whether their medical conditions should have been taken into account when the Housing Authority’s appeal panel upheld the decision in February for the family to vacate their rental unit in Tin Shui Wai.
The woman reportedly suffered from bipolar disorder while her son was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She fell to her death in April, followed by her son in July, while waiting for the outcome of their application for interim housing.
In response, Housing Secretary Winnie Ho Wing-yin pledged to adopt a more “humane” approach to eviction cases involving tenants with mental health issues. She said the government would “seriously review and carefully explore ways to further improve and optimise its work guidelines and procedures, especially for cases involving tenants with special needs”. The appeal panel, largely composed of people from the legal and social work sectors, would also incorporate more members with a medical background. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also agreed that the scheme had room for improvement.
