Not even study rooms are safe? In August 2026, Hong Kong saw two bed bug incidents in quick succession: at a study room in San Po Kong, a student watched bed bugs crawl across the jacket of the elderly man sitting next to him; at Tsz Ching Estate in Tsz Wan Shan, a resident dumped a suspected infested old mattress in the lift lobby, prompting a furious handwritten notice from a neighbour. Both stories went viral — and the Housing Department ended up stepping in.
The study room scare: bugs crawling on a jacket
- It happened at a study room in San Po Kong. A male student noticed the elderly man at the next seat placing his belongings on the desk and hanging his jacket over the chair back.
- A closer look revealed at least two live bed bugs crawling on the jacket’s surface, plus one sesame-sized egg near the edge.
- The student immediately filmed three video clips, posted them on social media, admitted he was terrified the bugs would crawl onto him, and quickly alerted the duty staff — worried the infestation would spread to the carpet and other seats.
- After the story broke, netizens flooded the comments — some said they felt itchy just watching the screen. Others shared painful experiences of their own, saying insecticide sprays were completely useless and that only a full strip-out and renovation finally solved the problem.
Tsz Ching Estate’s dumped mattress: a handwritten notice lashes out
- Around the same time, a resident of Tsz Ching Estate, Tsz Wan Shan, complained that a neighbour on the same floor had dumped an old mattress crawling with bed bugs in the lift lobby.
- An outraged neighbour posted a handwritten notice warning the culprit to behave, threatening to call the Housing Department if it happened again.
- Dumping a mattress doesn’t just block the way — it can let bed bugs spread through lobbies and corridors into other flats, one of the most common ways infestations travel in public housing.
How the Housing Department responded: removal, disinfection, marking scheme
- After receiving the report, security staff at the Housing Department’s estate office arranged for a cleaning contractor to remove the mattress and carry out a full disinfection; no bed bugs were found during the operation.
- Office staff later removed the handwritten notice, urging residents not to post their own notices in public areas.
- The Department also reiterated the public housing marking scheme: tenants who illegally dump refuse in public areas and obstruct cleaning get a written warning for a first offence; 7 points are deducted for a repeat offence within two years; and accumulating 16 points leads to tenancy termination and recovery of the flat.
Protecting yourself: study rooms and libraries
Bed bugs can hide in chair crevices, carpets and lockers in public study spaces. A few precautions:
- Don’t drape clothes and bags carelessly: keep jackets and backpacks where you can see them, away from the next person’s belongings; use hooks where available instead of tossing things over chair backs.
- Look before you sit: check seat crevices and table edges for tiny black spots (bug droppings) or live insects.
- Inspect as soon as you’re home: change your clothes right away, check bag seams, and run a hot wash and hot dry — heat is the safest bet.
- Never pick up second-hand furniture: mattresses and sofas left on the street or at refuse points can be bug nests. The saving isn’t worth the risk. For public housing bed bug prevention, see our public housing self-help manual.
- Bitten, itchy and swollen? First check the bite identification guide to confirm it’s bed bugs; if it is, How to Treat Bed Bugs Yourself: Correct Steps (Hong Kong) has the full process.
Sources
- GoTrip (Aug 2026) — “Bed Bug Crisis: Chi Ching Estate, San Po Kong” (original link no longer available)
(Written 2026-10-11; compiled from public reports.)