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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1974
RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL PUBLISHED
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THE RATING (AMENDMENT) BILL 1975 WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS WERE MINOR ONES MADE PRINCIPALLY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC AND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE.
ONE OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS HAS PARTICULAR APPLICATION TO THE NEW TERRITORIES AND WILL ENSURE THAT RATEPAYERS IN NEW AREAS BROUGHT INTO RATING FOR THE FIRST TIME WILL PAY AT THE SAME GENERAL LEVELS OF VALUATION AS EXISTING RATEPAYERS IN OTHER AREAS. ANOTHER PROVIDES FOR THE STATUTORY EXEMPTION FROM RATING OF CEMETERIES AND CREMATORIA.
THE OTHER AMENDMENTS ARE MAINLY OF A TECHNICAL NATURE AND MERELY SIMPLIFY EXISTING PROCEDURES. THEY INCLUDE ONE WHICH ALLOWS THE COMMISSIONER TO CHANGE A RATEABLE VALUE FOLLOWING NOTICE OF OBJECTION FROM A RATEPAYER.
UNDER ANOTHER AMENDMENT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WILL BE PERMITTED TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE PERCENTAGE RATE CHARGES BY RESOLUTION RATHER THAN BY HAVING TO AMEND THE LEGISLATION AS IS THE CASE AT PRESENT.
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