for the purpose of outside seating for restaurants, and specified the charges to be made; commercial premises to be sublet subject to conditions specified in writing; an additional sum of $1.00 per room to be charged to tenants of rooms in Mark I and II blocks to which an electricity supply has been connected; the rents to be charged for special flats and specified shop premises in Mark V blocks; and a nominal licence fee of $1.00 a month to be charged for non-profit making organizations operating in licensed areas.
27. The Ordinance was also amended to give the competent authority power to declare a building dangerous and have the building evacuated at once in an emergency. The competent authority was also empowered to take possession of any property placed in or affixed to premises in contravention of any condition of a tenancy, occupation permit or license.
28. The major amendment of the year was the two-stage increase in rent for Mark I and II ground floor commercial premises. The purpose of this increase, the first stage of which came into effect in November and the second stage on 1st April, 1969, is to bring the rents for shops in old estates more into line with rents in the newer estates.
THE URBAN COUNCIL
29. The Urban Council has played a major part in the resettlement programme since the earliest days, before the Resettlement Depart- ment was set up, and, as mentioned above, it is the competent authority for Parts IV and V of the Resettlement Ordinance in respect of the urban area. This means, in effect, that it is responsible for the manage- ment of the urban estates and cottage areas. It can let and terminate domestic, shop and factory tenancies in resettlement estates and it can amend tenancy cards. In cottage areas it can authorize the erection of buildings on permit, approve the form of hire purchase agreements, authorize the occupation of buildings, revoke and amend occupation permits and let Government-owned buildings. The Council delegates its responsibilities to two Select Committees and, in 1968-69, did so in the following terms:
Resettlement Policy Select Committee:
To determine overall resettlement policies and the planning of future operations, including the exercise of the powers and functions of the Council as the competent authority under Parts IV and V of the Resettlement Ordinance.
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