HONG KONG – Revised rules aimed at deterring water overcharging by enhancing enforcement efficiency and increasing penalties came into force on Friday after the government gazetted the Waterworks (Amendment) Ordinance 2024.

Passed by the Legislative Council on April 10, the amended ordinance stipulates that reimbursement for water can only be collected from tenants after the water bill from the WSD has been issued and paid.

The revised rules empower the Water Supplies Department and the Rating and Valuation Department to exchange information, the government said a statement.

“A mechanism for exchanging information when handling cases of overcharging for water has been finalized, enabling a more effective process of inspection and handling of cases that could not be followed up in the past,” said a spokesman for the Development Bureau.

The tenants can pay the water charges by themselves according to the separate water bills issued by the WSD for each subdivided unit, and the owners can save the trouble of apportioning the water charge.

Spokesman, Development Bureau, HKSAR

An offender is liable on a first conviction to a fine of HK$10,000, and a HK$25,000 fine on a subsequent conviction. Apart from the fine, those convicted must repay the overcharged amount to the tenant.

The ordinance also empowers the WSD to request the relevant persons to provide information or documents, including receipts for water charges or payment records. Failure to comply with such requests without reasonable excuse is liable to a fine of HK$10,000 and a further fine of HK$1,000 for each subsequent day that the required information is not submitted.

People providing false or misleading information to the WSD will be liable to a fine of HK$25,000 and six months of imprisonment.

From July 19 onwards, those who collect a reimbursement for water must issue a receipt containing the specified content in seven days from the payment of the relevant amount, and keep a copy of the receipt for two years. An offender is liable on conviction to a HK$10,000 fine.

For owners of subdivided units, the Development Bureau recommended installing separate water meters from the WSD for their tenants.

“The tenants can pay the water charges by themselves according to the separate water bills issued by the WSD for each subdivided unit, and the owners can save the trouble of apportioning the water charge,” said the spokesman.

Filipino journalist Muloy, who has never seen a water bill since moving into a studio apartment in Wan Chai almost two years ago, thinks the new rules will drown out any suspicion of overcharging.

“Landlords simply advise me how much I'm supposed to pay for water without showing me a copy of the water bill. I have no idea what the meter readings said over so many months. I'd like to believe I've not been duped, but this is a welcome development from the Hong Kong government,” he added.