The Legislative Council passed the third reading of a bill to criminalize the serious tenancy abuse, which is expected to come into effect on 31 March 2026.

The bill will impose a fine of $500,000 and imprisonment for one year for subletting a public domestic unit or using public housing for commercial purposes.

In addition, the bill also includes allowing authorized officers to request suspicious person to show proof of identity immediately, and substantially extending the time limit for prosecution against illegal transfer and other abusive acts from “within two years of the crime” to “within six years of the crime or within one year of its discovery by the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA)”.