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PROVISIONAL URBAN COUNCIL
Third follow-up question. It is said in paragraph (a) of the reply document that the Rating and Valuation Department estimates a cut in future rates revenue because of two factors, ie, objections to assessment and fewer new properties. I would like to have concrete figures relating to these two factors. What difference will there be when compared with the original estimates?
MR. CHIANG Sai-Cheong (in Cantonese):—In reply to the first question by Mr. Wu, it is already mentioned in paragraph (a) of the reply document that the Provisional Urban Council may suffer a cut of around $0.4 billion in the triennium ending 1998.
The second question concerns the manpower of the Rating and Valuation Department, the main deciding factors in assessing rates revenue include the number of new properties to come on stream, current market situation and the rates percentage passed by the Legislative Council. When making assessment, the Rating and Valuation Department considers all the above factors. There are 4 officers seconded to the Urban Services Department from the Rating and Valuation Department to be responsible for handling property rental and other day-to-day work such as leases involving the Provisional Urban Council. The above 4 officers are one Senior Valuation Surveyor, one Valuation Surveyor, one Senior Valuation Officer and one Valuation Officer. They are all attached to the Estate Management Section of the Administration Branch. Their Section is not provided with resources or back up support to carry out comprehensive surveys on the property market and make assessments.
Mr. WU CHI-Wai (in Cantonese):—I think Mr. Chang has not answered the question on the actual amount of rates revenue as at 30 September and how it differs from the projected income. In the reply document, it is only mentioned that there may be a cut of $0.4 billion in the current triennium. We are now in the middle of the triennium, what is the actual reduction in rates revenue?
Mr. Chiang Sai-cheong (in Cantonese):—I do not have the exact figures in hand. I will furnish Mr. Wu with the figures after the meeting.
CHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):—Mr. CHAN Kwok-leung, please ask your question.
(3) MR. CHAN KWOK-LEUNG asked the following question (in Cantonese):—'It is reported that the 'Healthy Living into the 21st Century Steering Committee' (the Steering Committee) proposed to replace court summons by fixed penalty for the punishment of litter offenders, and to require repeated offenders to attend a compulsory education course and wear uniform to sweep streets at specified locations. In view of this, I have the following questions:
(a) Earlier on, the Working Group on the Control of Illegal Hawking proposed to introduce fixed penalty to replace prosecuting offenders for
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