Wednesday, October 31, 1973
This was necessary because most of the tenancies were on month-
to-month terms, and in most cases no document changes hands.
This was
unsatisfactory from the tenant's point of view.
Hr. Lightbody said he regarded the new provision as a first stop
which might later be reinforced by a requirement for the receipts to contain
a simple statement of the tenant's right and obligations.
Ile made it clear that contrary to some suggestions, the Bill
would not trigger off a spate of rent increases unless the tenante fail to
use the protection provided by the Bill,
He advised those who are faced with demands for rent increases
not supported by a certificate to seek advice from the Rating and Valuation
Department before agreeing to pay higher rents.
He also pointed out that the proposed Bill would not be enacted
if passed on December 1 as earlier envisaged, due to changes in the time-
table of its passage through the Legislative Council, It would not now
come into force before December 15.
Referring to another rent Bill the Landlord and Tenant
(Consolidation) (Amendment) Bill which affects pre-war premises, Mr. Lightbody
said two types of tenancies would be excluded from legislative control.
These were those premises for which the tenant enters into an
agreement to return the premises to the landlord, in exchange for some
consideration; and those premises for which the tenant chooses to contract
out of the provisions of the Ordinance by signing an agreement, approved
by the Tenancy Tribunal, for a fixed term not exceeding five years.
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