Hong Kong’s ombudsman has urged housing authorities to crack down harder on illegal parking at public housing estates after its investigation revealed an “unsatisfactory” situation in which some vehicles obstructed emergency access routes.

Ombudsman Jack Chan Jick-chi on Thursday acknowledged that there were enforcement challenges but nonetheless stressed that the problem could lead to serious consequences unless the Housing Department took tougher action.

“In certain public housing estates, the installation of vehicle barrier gates is infeasible due to geographical and environmental constraints, resulting in practical enforcement challenges against illegal parking, particularly outside office hours,” he said.

“Our site inspections revealed prolonged illegal parking of many vehicles in public housing estates at night. Some of these vehicles may even obstruct emergency vehicles. The situation is unsatisfactory.”

The Office of the Ombudsman had earlier conducted an investigation into the Housing Department’s management of illegal parking. The department manages 195 public housing estates, which accommodate over 780,000 households and about two million residents.

Site inspections were conducted on estates where installing vehicle barrier gates was infeasible, namely Yau Oi Estate in Tuen Mun, Cheung Hong Estate in Kwai Tsing, Lai Yiu Estate in Lai King and Queen’s Hill Estate in Fanling.