Wednesday, March 20, 1974
SHOP TENANCY CONDITIONS SIMPLIFIED
Conditions of tenancy for shop operators in Group B estates
were made public today by the Housing Authority.
These conditions, which are similar to those contained in the
existing tenancy cards, have been simplified and worded in layman's
language for the benefit of shop keepers.
The Authority has carefully considered them to ensure that
tenants' fear of a threat to their security of tenure is completely removed.
The only major change concerns transfer of tenancies other than
by succession and inheritance.
Such transfers must be made by surrendering the tenancy to the
Authority, which will then re-let the premises by inviting public tenders
through advertisements. The re-letting premium will go to the outgoing tenant.
"This new arrangement will completely remove any possible scope
for irregularities and will also likely produce a higher premium for the
outgoing tenant as the incoming tenant will no longer have to be an estate
resident as previously reqired," a Housing Authority spokesman said.
He added that during a tenant's lifetime or on his death, his
tenancy may be transferred to a member of his family or his lawful successor,
subject to the approval of the Authority in writing.
In the meanwhile, the Housing Department has written to the 10,000-odd
shop operators in the various estates informing them of the conditions of the
tenancy agreement.
Mr. Donald Liao, Director of Housing, emphasised that the introduction
of the agreement was purely to improve management,
"It is not the Authority's aim or intention to deprive tenants
of any of the privileges they have been enjoying," he said.
The conditions .....