Hong Kong’s Environmental Hygiene Department (EHD) is currently embroiled in controversy after it was discovered four employees of its cleaning subcontractor were caught fabric ating their work records. The incident, described by some as audacious, involved the workers posting street signs before removing them as part of their cleaning duties, with photographic evidence submitted to suggest compliance with their sanitation tasks.
The situation came to light on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at around 1:30 PM, when Roni Wong, an eyewitness, recorded video evidence of the workers at various locations, particularly around Nam Cheong Street and Ki Lung Street in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong. Wong stated, “I couldn’t believe my eyes at first, but upon closer inspection, it was all too blatant. They were self-placing the signs, then pretending to clean them up!”
Concerned residents and Wong expressed outrage, with Wong leading efforts to document the activities of the four external cleaning workers, who were later identified as employed by Bitter Clean Service Company, the designated contractor for street cleaning services. Eyewitness accounts revealed the workers would attach signs to lampposts, photograph these signs, and then swiftly remove them, creating fraudulent evidence of work performed.
Upon reviewing the footage, the EHD spokesperson revealed, "We are taking this incident very seriously and have started our investigation. This behavior is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate fraudulently submitted work records.” The department emphasized the importance of maintaining integrity among its contractors and stated immediate action would be taken against the individuals involved.
The EHD, which oversees the management of city sanitation, has indicated it had no specific minimum targets for the removal of unauthorized postings, which likely contributed to the questionable practices of the employees. The EHD spokesperson asserted, "If the investigation confirms this misconduct, we will take serious action according to our contract, including reductions to the service fees," hinting at potential penalties for Bitter Clean Service Company if found guilty.
The reaction from the public has been one of incredulity and disappointment. Various messages shared on social media platforms captured the frustration of citizens who expect accountability from public service contractors. Wong expressed his concern about the issues of fund mismanagement concerning public services, urging the EHD to closely monitor subcontractor performance to prevent such breaches from happening again.
“Public funds need to be used wisely, and seeing these workers openly committing such acts is not just disappointing, it’s infuriant,” said Wong, who had preserved details and was preparing to submit formal complaints to the EHD, highlighting the importance of keeping the cleaning authorities responsible.
Witnesses at the scene repeated similar sentiments, bringing attention to the need for effective oversight of external contractors hired for public service roles. With public trust on the line, the investigations surrounding the incident have gained substantial traction, allowing the community to voice their concerns over potential misuse of public funds and inadequate supervision of contracted workers.
While the EHD continues its investigation, it has ordered the suspension of the four workers involved until the conclusion of the inquiry. Wong noted, “We need to not just resolve the issue but also create accountability frameworks to deter such actions going forward.”
The situation has raised significant questions about how public services are managed and the necessary steps to restore trust among Hong Kong residents. For now, as the EHD navigates through this scandal, they face not only the immediate need to rectify this incident but also the wider challenges of ensuring comprehensive service quality and integrity within their operational framework.
Overall, this incident has not only spotlighted issues within the EHD but has also prompted public scrutiny of the entire contractual system of cleaning services across the city. Community engagement and responsiveness from the EHD during this investigation will be pivotal moving forward to re-establish credibility with the citizens it serves.