4 November 2013
By email
Building Department
Electrical and Mechanical Services Department
Environmental Protection Department
Fire Service Department
Food and Environmental Hygiene Department
Inland Revenue Department
Lands Department
Planning Department
Rating and Valuation Department
Social Welfare Department
Attention: Department Director
Dear Sir or Madam –
Ref.: Formal Complaint about Inhuman Living Conditions
We draw your attention to the illegal structures in which government-contractor,
the International Social Service (ISS-HK), has settled refugees, asylum seekers and torture
claimants (hereafter, refugees) since 2006. These apparent unauthorized building works
in refugee ghettos pose an imminent danger to their residents. We are deeply
concerned about the safety of refugees living in such an illicit hazardous environment.
Hong Kong government has done much to establish our reputation as a modern and
cosmopolitan city. However, behind the prosperity, there is a numbers of people living in
appalling conditions. Many are vulnerable and underprivileged migrants and refugees
only few in society appear to be genuinely concerned about. Further, these individuals are
largely unable to voice complaints. Vision First, aims to provide humanitarian aid to these
refugees and expose uninhabitable ghettos which further their social marginalization.
Following numerous site visits, Vision First expresses its concern that these refugee
ghettos violate numerous regulations. First, we notice that the presumed landlords and
agents have changed the land use without prior approval, one that should be regulated by
the Town Planning Ordinance (Cap 131) and relevant Government leases. Second, we are
concerned that such changes – including apparent illegal structures – violate the Fire
Service Ordinance (Cap 95), and thus expose refugees to a significant fire hazard.
In this regard, most disturbing is the fact that unscrupulous landlords seem to have
illegally and recklessly converted abandoned farmland and animal sheds, as well as
commercial yards and warehouses into refugee ghettos. These slums are subdivided into
fire-trap rooms that are rented at extortionary prices to refugees under the fiduciary care
of SWD and its contractor ISS-HK. It should be noted that through this unconcealed
housing fraud, some landlords earn over 500,000 HK$ in tax dollars without paying rates.
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In addition, there is an imminent danger of explosion where LPG cylinders are stored
carelessly, in volume and often in direct sunlight. We are deeply concerned that no
Notifiable Gas Installation license is obtained where more than 130 liters of liquefied
petroleum gas are being stored. The evidence suggests that many owners of refugee
ghettos are in breach of the Gas Safety (Gas Supply) Regulation, Reg 6. At one location about
a dozen cylinders were kept in close proximity under the sun in a gathering area.
Finally, we understand that portable fire extinguishers are a fire service installation (FSI).
Pursuant to Regulation 8 of the Fire Service (Installations and Equipment) Regulations, Cap
95B, a person who fails to inspect fire extinguishers may be liable upon conviction. In
several slums, fire extinguishers were either not installed or provided by landlords with
inspection dates having lapsed by over a year. It is reported that several ghettos burnt to
the ground since ISS-HK settled refugees in these dangerous structures. We firmly
emphasize that fire poses an imminent danger to human lives in every ghetto.
Despite considerable financial gains, landlords do nothing to ensure that tenants enjoy
anything close to a safe, decent, basic living environment. Quite to the contrary, fire,
sanitation and hygiene violations would definitely overwhelm a multi-department
inspection. We are in no doubt that the owners of these slums have breached sections
30(1), 27(1A) and 7(1) of the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap 132).
In our opinion, your department has failed to monitor and enforce the law effectively in
these ghettos. It is imperative to take preventive action before tragedy strikes. We urge
you to investigate these refugee ghettos with urgency, noting that the press and public
have already been informed.
Vision First believes the ghettofication of refugees is an affront to Hong Kong
citizens who have placed their trust in the Government to do what is right and dignified
in asylum policies.
Let us not forsake our humanity.
Sincerely yours,
Cosmo Beatson
Cosmo Beatson
Executive Director
cc.
Office of the Chief Executive of HKSAR
Local and international press
Legislative Council Secretariat
Security Bureau
Audit Commission
International Social Service, Geneva
International Social Service, Hong Kong
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