WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1981
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THE EXISTING LEGISLATION, WHICH HE SAID NEEDS TO BE FURTHER REVISED IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, PROVIDES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF SOCIETIES AND OTHER RELATED MATTERS.
+ IN A SENSE, SAID MR WONG, IT IS A NEGATIVE MEASURE, DESIGNED MERELY TO COMBAT THE EVILS OF UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES.
+MAY 1 SUGGEST THAT THE OPPORTUNITY BE ALSO TAKEN TO REINFORCE THE ORDINANCE IN A POSITIVE WAY BY CONFERRING BENEFITS ON SOCIETIES REQUIRED TO REGISTER UNDER ITS PROVISIONS.+
TAKING THE MULTI-STOREY BUILDINGS (OWNERS INCORPORATION) ORDINANCE AS AN EXAMPLE, MR WONG NOTED IT CONFERS CORPORATE STATUS ON THE OWNERS UPON INCORPORATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE.
SIMILAR PROVISIONS CONFERRING CORPORATE STATUS MAY BE FOUND IN THE TRADE UNIONS ORDINANCE, CREDIT UNIONS ORDINANCE, CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE AND THE REGISTERED TRUSTEES INCORPORATION ORDINANCE.
+THE ADVANTAGES ARE OBVIOUS, + SAID MR WONG,
+FOR EXAMPLE, A BODY CORPORATE MAY HOLD LAND IN ITS CORPORATE NAME WHEREAS AN UNINCORPORATED BODY MAY NOT.+
AT PRESENT, SOCIETIES WISHING TO ACQUIRE CORPORATE STATUS WILL HAVE TO BE INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
THE PROCEDURE IS BOTH CUMBERSOME AND COSTLY AND THE REQUIREMENTS ARE NUMEROUS AND COMPLICATED, MR WONG NOTED.
+THERE ARE AT THE MOMENT OVER 3 000 REGISTERED SOCIETIES, MOST OF WHICH ARE SMALL ORGANISATIONS WITHOUT THE NECESSARY FINANCIAL RESOURCES OR MANPOWER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE BENEFITS CONFERRED BY THE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.
+THE INTRODUCTION OF CORPORATE STATUS UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE WILL NO DOUBT BE A BENEFICIAL MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, HE SAID.
ON THE SUBJECT OF RENT CONTROL, MR WONG CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE HEED OF THE RECOMMENDATION ON CORPORATE LETTINGS MADE BY THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW.
HE SAID HE AGREED WITH THE COMMITTEE THAT CORPORATE TENANTS SHOULD BE EXCLUDED FROM PROTECTION AND QUOTED TWO PASSAGES FROM THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT TO SUPPORT HIS VIEWS:
*
THERE IS A STRONG BODY OF OPINION OPPOSED TO PROTECTING CORPORATE TENANTS ON THE GROUND THAT BOTH THE LANDLORD AND THE TENANT ARE IN BUSINESS= AND
* SOME COMPANIES THAT ARE TENANTS OF RESIDENTIAL
ACCOMMODATION HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF OTHER ASSETS AND ARE BEING SOLD AT SUBSTANTIAL PRICES THEREBY EFFECTING A CHANGE IN THE PERSON IN PHYSICAL OCCUPATION EVEN THOUGH AS A MATTER OF TECHNICAL LAW, THE ACTUAL TENANT DOES NOT CHANGE.
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MR WONG URGED THAT THIS +UNDESIRABLE ANOMALY AND INEQUITY+ BE REMOVED AS SOON AS PRACTICABLE.
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Joe