52
Hote on Rent Control in lions Long.
The housing problem and prevalent charges for
rent in Hong Kong were the subject of a Commission appointed on the 9th March 1938, but although rents were rising at that time the Government decided that
no imouiate action was necessary, although a careful
watch was kept on the situation.
But later in 1938 it was considered necessary
to deal with situation by legislation and an
Ordinance for the rovention of Eviction was passed (No.6 of 1938) which provided in Section 3(2) that
when a court decided that an order for eviction should
either be cancelled or delayed, it should also "have
power to determine what increase in rent is fair and
reasonable, regard being had to the character and
condition of the dwelling-house, and the rents of
similar houses in the locality."
By Ordinance No.5 of 1939 the court was given
power to determine any question on the rent payable by
a sitting tenant, and ordinance No.44 of 1939 amended
and consolidated the two previous ones and provided
that "where a tenant has received from the landlord a
notice of increase of rent.....he my apply in a
Summary way to a judge to decide whether the proposed
increase of rent is fair and reasonable, and.................. the
judge may give such directions in the matter as he
thinks proper," the decision of the judge to be final.
It was also provided that a land lord or tenant could
apply to the assessor for a certificate stating hat
wus considered a fair and reasonable rent, but
(by ordinance o.14 of 1940) this was not to allow
any increase or anticipated increase in respect of any
property tax imposed by the war Revenue Ordinance, 1940-
this proviso being udded to ensure that the property
/tax