138
LAND AND HOUSING
in 1947. This restricted rent by reference to pre-war figures and at the same time freed new and substantially reconstructed buildings from control. The broad distinction between controlled and un- controlled premises lies in whether they are pre-war or post-war buildings. By virtue of a series of amendments in legislation, the permitted increases over the standard rent by 1954 reached 55 per cent for domestic premises and 150 per cent for business premises. Redevelopment of pre-war buildings is covered by an important provision in the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance whereby premises may be excluded from its application by order of the Governor in Council upon the recommendation of a tenancy tribunal. Tribunals follow the criterion of public interest and award compensation to tenants in consideration of the hardship which dispossession will cause them. The rate of compensation must be viewed in relation to the enhanced value of the land which can then be redeveloped. A total of 885 exclusion orders were made in 1964, 200 in 1965, 25 in 1966, and 17 in 1967. This downward trend reflects the-falling off in the rate of development in the past three years.
Since 1953 two tenancy enquiry bureaux, one on either side of the harbour, have operated within the framework of the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs to help the machinery of the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance work smoothly. The principal statutory duty of the bureaux is to provide tenancy tribunals with factual informa- tion whenever a landlord applies for exclusion from control or a tenant seeks reduction of rent. The bureaux also give advice and assistance to the public in tenancy matters, particularly in the interpretation and application of ordinances. Since November, 1964, the bureaux have been responsible for paying interest-free advances to tenants whose pre-war premises are declared dangerous and closed by the Building Authority. The scheme helps these tenants to overcome financial difficulties, arising out of eviction at short notice, prior to the award by a tenancy tribunal of com- pensation due from their landlords under the provisions of the Demolished Buildings (Redevelopment of Sites) Ordinance.
Loans for this purpose totalled $2,127,800 in 1965, $1,933,226 in 1966 and $841,360 in 1967.
The Tenancy (Prolonged Duration) Ordinance enacted in 1952 gave three-year security of tenure to tenants of post-war buildings