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Wednesday, January 17, 1973
OWNER OF PREWAR BUILDINGS SHOULD HAVE CONCESSION IN RATES
Debate Resumes On Rating Bill
The Hon. P.C. Woo today urged the Government not to deprive the
owners of prewar premises of the two per cent concession in the payment of
rates.
Speaking at the resumed debate on the Rating Bill 1973 in the
Legislative Council, Mr. Woo said the existing rateable value was 17 per
cent whereas under the Bill the rateable value was reduced to 15 per cent.
However, he said the two per cent reduction was not available to
owners of prewar buildings, as the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation now
made new assessments of these premises by increasing their rateable values
to almost the same as before, that is, no reduction was made.
The Commissioner increased the rateable values of these premises
although the rents had not been increased and could not be increased as the
rents were controlled by the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance.
"In my opinion such assessment can be challenged in a Court of Law
in that it cannot be shown that the rental has been increased recently and,
therefore, the assessment of the Commissioner is wrong.'
Mr. Woo also suggested that these prewar buildings should be decontrolled
under this ordinance.
The Government should amend the ordinance to the effect that once
the landlord had recovered possession from the tenant, the premises should not
be subject to the provisions of the ordinance.
/This,