WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 1920
THE HON ALEX WU
MR WU SAID HE SUPPORTED THE LEGISLATION ONLY FOR THE REASON THAT IT WAS THE ONLY MEANS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME TO DEAL URGENTLY WITH AN INTOLERABLE SITUATION.
HE SAID THE TEMPORARY BLANKET' MEASURE SUFFERED FROM ALL THE INEVITABLE DEFICIENCIES OF HASTILY CONCEIVED LEGISLATION:
* IN THOSE CASES WHERE THE NATURAL RIGHTS OF A LANDLORD
ARE UNREASONABLY DENIED-
ام
* IN THE 21 PER CENT PERMISSIBLE RENT INCREASE OVER TWO YEARS
WHICH SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED, PERHAPS ADJUSTED TO 30 PER CENT
IN LINE WITH INFLATION- AND
* IN THE PROTECTION OF GOVERNMENT FROM RENT INCREASE, BECAUSE IT WOULD BE HEALTHY FOR CIVIL SERVANTS TO SHARE THE GENERAL ANXIETIES,
MR WU ADDED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE LOGIC OF THE PROPOSAL THAT A 'LUXURY' FLAT OCCUPIED BY A "PROFIT-MAKING CORPORATION' SHOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE LEGISLATION.
THERE ARE LARGE FLATS BUILT MANY YEARS AGO WHICH CANNOT BE CALLED LUXURIOUS AND THERE ARE LOCALLY ESTABLISHED CORPORATIONS WHICH ARE NOT NECESSARILY RICH, HE EXPLAINED.
EVEN IF THIS WAS NOT SO, THE IDEA THAT THERE SHOULD BE A CLASS OF TENANTS, MOSTLY OVERSEAS CORPORATIONS, WHO SHOULD BE FAIR GAME TO BE FLEECED WITHOUT MERCY+ CANNOT BE TO HONG KONG'S ADVANTAGE AND THE SITUATION IS BEING CAREFULLY WATCHED FROM OVERSEAS, HE SAID,
HE SAID ANOTHER AREA OF ANXIETY ARISING FROM LEGISLATION WAS THE NEED FOR POLICING AND RECOURSE TO THE COURTS, WHICH WOULD BE NO REMEDY AT ALL IF IT WAS NOT SWIFT.
MR WU ASKED FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION ON LONG-TERM MEASURES, AFTER HAVING OBTAINED THIS BREATHING SPACE.
THESE INCLUDED THE SETTING UP OF A LANDS DEPARTMENT, A REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING STANDARDS, MORE EXTENSIVE CO-OPERATION AND AT AN EARLIER STAGE WITH PRIVATE DEVELOPERS, AND PLANNING FOR LARGER DEVELOPMENTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, PARTICULARLY ON LANTAU ISLAND.
REV THE HON JOYCE M. BENNETT
SHE WELCOMED THE GOVERNMENT ACTION TO CURB THE SPIRALLING COST OF RENTS FOR RESIDENTIAL ACCOMMODATION BUT HOPED THAT THE 'MORE HARDSHIP' CLAUSE BE REMOVED FROM THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE BECAUSE +TWO FAMILIES CANNOT FAIRLY BE COMPARED FOR HARDSHIP+.
/S