60
Date:
25.11.86
2.15 to 5.00
Time:
Reporter:
JPM
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[4.20 p.m.]
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CHAIRMAN:
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Now,
let's get on with Items 35 to 41,
paragraphs of the Audit Report. Can I invite the Commissioner of Rating & Valuation and the Secretary for Municipal Services.
We are
now dealing with Paragraphs 35 to 41 of the Director of Audit's Report on non-assessment of rates of market stalls in public markets of the Urban and Regional Councils: could I invite Mr HO Sai-chu?
I would like to ask the
MR HO:
Thank you. Commissioner of Rating & Valuation my question. As under the Rating Ordinance, rates due on an interim valuation are only payable from 24
months before the date of the issue of the first demand, we would
like to enquire whether the Commissioner of Rating & Valuation (yourself) is aware that the longer the rating exercise is delayed,
the greater the loss to the revenue will be?
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CRV:
Yes, I am aware of that.
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MR HO:
You are aware of that?
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CRV:
Yes.
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CRV:
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MR HO:
Well then, as the Commissioner of Rating
& Valuation's duties are not subject to administrative decisions or
directions unless such were translated into legislation, whether the
Commissioner should apply the law rather than be guided by the views
of the relevant policy branches?
I thank you are probably referring to the
original statement that the Director of Audit made back in 1975 on
the kiosks. This is strictly true in point of fact unless the law is changed and the Ordinance is amended, my duty is in fact to assess the rates, and I do agree with what you say. However, if one takes and obviously the DFS and the Policy Branch have to take into
account the overall picture as to the effect both on revenue and political and social consequences and so on, of assessing in this
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