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Friday, March 8, 1974
RATING COMMISSIONER TO TAKE OVER TENANCY INQUIRY BUREAUX
Responsibility for the running of the Tenancy Inquiry Bureaux is
to be transferred from the Director of Home Affairs to the Commissioner of
Rating and Valuation under the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment)
Bill published in today's gazette.
The Tenancy Inquiry Bureaux perform certain duties and provide a
service to the public on tenancies in pre-war buildings,
However, since the Bureaux were set up, the major part of the
government's responsibility in domestic tenancy matters has shifted to post-
war promises and has been carried out by the Commissioner of Rating and
Valuation.
The latter duties cover not only statutory functions, such as
authorising increases in rents of domestic post-war premises, but also giving
assistance and advice to the public on rent control and other tenancy problems
in such premises. In addition, the Commissioner has always had certain duties
to perform relating to pre-war tenancies.
On the grounds of both efficiency and service to the public, it is
considered that all these tenancy matters, both pre-war and post-var, should
be the responsibility of one department.
As the Rating and Valuation Department now has the largest share of
this work, it is proposed that it should take over all such duties with effect
from April 1 this year.
*
If the bill is enacted, all communications after that date about
tenancy matters for both pre-war and post-war premises should be addressed to
the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation, 1 Garden Road, Hong Kong.
/The branches