ACTION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED FLYERS

ACTION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED FLYERS

41.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for National Development given the increasing nuisance of flyers being pasted/left by the various vendors at HDB flats (a) will the Ministry be taking action against these vendors to stop them from defacing public property; (b) what is the remedy for HDB residents when flyers are stuck on their doors or iron-grille gates; and (c) whether the Ministry will direct property broking firms to look at other alternative means of advertising their services instead of distributing unsolicited flyers and pamphlets.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Town Councils maintain the common property, such as void decks and lift lobbies, at HDB housing estates. It is an offence under the Town Councils' Common Property and Open Spaces By-Laws to paste flyers on common property without prior written approval from the Town Council.

Upon detection of unauthorised flyers bearing an address or contact number, the Town Council would typically contact and caution the offender. Should the offence persist, the Town Council would proceed to serve an offence notice to the offender. The offence carries a maximum penalty of $5,000. Town Councils can compound such an offence, in lieu of prosecution, by collecting a composition sum not exceeding $1,000 from the offender.

However, the Town Councils and HDB cannot stop businesses (including real estate agencies) from distributing flyers to HDB households. To discourage such marketing practices, residents should refrain from responding to these flyers.

Column: 477