11
Wednesday, May 10, 1972
GOVERNMENT URGED TO RECONSIDER CROWN RENT POLICY
Fair And Reasonable Method Of Computation
The Hon. P.C. Woo today strongly urged Government to reconsider
its policy and to adopt a fair and reasonable method of computation of
Grown rent for the holders of renewable Crown leases.
He was speaking in the Legislative Council in support of a
motion by the Hon. Oswald Cheung that Government make a thorough review
of its existing Crown rents policy.
Referring to the case of Chang Lan Sheng Appellant and the
Attorney General
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Respondent, Mr. Woo said the judgment of the Privy
Council in that case had only limited connection with the "problem
under consideration by this Council today."
The problem was what would be a fair and reasonable manner in
which to reassess Crom rent on those Crown leasea which are due to
expire within the next few years and which provide for renewal in the
hands of the existing losace.
At the trial, the appellant had claimed that the use of the
words "fair and reasonable rental" in a proviso to the lease had indicated
an intention that the standard should be something other than the full
market value and, since the proviso had been evidently intended to
confer a benefit on the lessee, that it should be lower than the full
market value, he said.
/Although