WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1981
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* IN APPLICATIONS FOR RE-DEVELOPMENT, PLANS OF NEW BUILDINGS WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO VARIATIONS BY THE LANDS TRIBUNAL. +WHERE APPROVAL IS REQUIRED IN RESPECT OF THE REBUILDING, THE TRIBUNAL MAY, ON STATING THAT IT IS SATISFIED THE LANDLORD INTENDS TO REBUILD, POSTPONE THE HEARING AND MAKE AN ORDER FOR POSSESSION WHEN SUCH APPROVAL IS OBTAINED,+ MR WONG SAID. THE TRIBUNAL MAY, FOR GOOD CAUSE, VARY ANY ORDER MADE BY IT, EXCEPT IN RELATION TO COMPENSATION.
* PROVISION WILL BE MADE FOR THE TRANSFER OF POSSESSION CAUSES
FROM THE DISTRICT COURT TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL ON A DATE TO BE GAZETTED.
WHILE APPRECIATING THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET ALL THE POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS, MR WONG URGED IT TO CONSIDER ACTIVELY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE THE ISSUES THAT WERE STILL UNRESOLVED.
THESE WERE: (1) TIME LIMIT ON THE PERIOD FOR WHICH A TENANCY CAN BE RENEWED UNDER THE NEW PART IV (11) PROVISION IN THE NEW PART IV TO ENABLE PROPERTY OWNERS, PARTICULARLY SMALL INVESTORS, TO DISPOSE OF THEIR PROPERTY WITH VACANT POSSESSION (1) THE POSITION OF THE CORPORATE LANDLORD WHO REQUIRES THE PREMISES FOR THE OCCUPATION OF ITS OWN EMPLOYEES (IV) SPECIFIC TIME LIMITS FOR DETERMINATION OF RENT UNDER THE NEW SECTION 119K- AND (V) PROVISION OF SOME FORM OF APPEAL AGAINST DECISIONS OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL GENERALLY.
MR WONG ALSO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER EXTENDING LEGAL AID TO THE LANDS TRIBUNAL TO COVER MATTERS RELATING TO LANDLORD AND TENANT IN VIEW OF THE TRANSFER OF JURISDICTION,
IN ADDITION, HE SAID, THOUGHT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO REDRAFTING THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE AS A WHOLE WITH A VIEW TO PRODUCING A MORE COHERENT STATUTE.
+AS A RESULT OF THE CHANGES NOW UNDER DISCUSSION, THE LAW WILL BECOME EVEN MORE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT TO FIND.
+1 WOULD THEREFORE SEEK ASSURANCES FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAT THE REVISED ORDINANCE WILL BE REPRINTED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE AND FURTHER THAT THE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE ORDINANCE RECOMMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW WILL NOT BE PIGEON-HOLED FOR CONSIDERATION AT SOME DISTANT UNSPECIFIED FUTURE DATE,+ MR WONG SAID.
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