Poor Households Struggling To Pay Water Bills: DAB

DAB lawmakers on Friday urged the government to waive penalties for those who are late paying their water charges, saying fewer meter checks than usual because of the pandemic have led to some people receiving bills they can't afford.

With Water Supplies Department staff working from home at times, estimates were used in some instances instead of actual readings.

Then in September, the department stopped issuing bills until meters were checked, meaning that when the bills did eventually arrive, they were much higher than normal because they covered multiple periods.

The DAB said it had received around 20 complaints from people living in Tin Shui Wai, including a woman who got a bill for HK$700 for a flat she hadn't lived in for several years, and a man who was asked to pay 20 times his usual charge.

Party lawmaker Holden Chow said even if the bills are more accurate now, the government should show flexibility to those on low-incomes who might struggle to pay water charges for many months of usage all in one go.

“You're now asking the grassroots people with limited income to pay out enormous amounts of money. According to the case we have right now, he has only less than HK$10,000 a month, but he is charged about HK$1,500. That’s expensive for him," Chow said.

The DAB called for the five percent surcharge that applies to overdue water bills to be suspended and for people to be given more time to pay.

“What we are asking from the government is they should grant more time to allow people to pay out the water bills. They should also consider waiving part of the fees of water bills to ease the pain, especially for the grassroots,” Chow said.

He also urged the government to make good on its pledge in 2018 to install digital water meters at public housing estates, saying having to send staff out to read meters in person is too old-fashioned.