THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1982
REMINDER TO RATEPAYERS
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RATEPAYERS ARE REMINDED THAT RATES FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1982 MUST BE PAID BY NOON ON OCTOBER 30.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TREASURY SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT LATE PAYMENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO A FIVE PER CENT SURCHARGE AND A FURTHER SURCHARGE OF 10 PER CENT ON ACCOUNTS STILL OUTSTANDING SIX MONTHS AFTER THE DUE DATE.
HE SAID RATEPAYERS SHOULD HAVE BY NOW RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES. THOSE WHO HAVE NOT YET RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES SHOULD APPLY FOR A COPY AT THE RATES SECTION OF THE TREASURY, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), NINTH FLOOR, ICE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG.
→WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMAND NOTE IS RECEIVED, IT DOES NOT ALTER THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RATES SHOULD BE PAID BEFORE THE DUE DATE, HE POINTED OUT.
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT RATES WERE PAYABLE ON VACANT PREMISES BUT WERE REFUNDABLE UNDER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE RATING ORDINANCE.
HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE NO REFUNDS IN THE CASE OF A VACANT TENEMENT LAST USED OR INTENDED TO BE USED WHOLLY OR PRIMARILY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES OR FOR THE PARKING OF VEHICLES, UNLESS IT IS VACANT BY REASON OF AN ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT.
TO AVOID QUEUE ING, RATEPAYERS ARE URGED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER SENT BY POST OR BY EARLY PERSONAL ATTENDANCE AT ANY OF THE OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE.
RATEPAYERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THE IR AUTOPAY FORMS SHOULD READ THEIR DEMAND NOTES CAREFULLY TO SEE IF THEY CONTAIN THE WORDING PAYMENT BY AUTOPAY AS AUTHORISED+. THE ABSENCE OF SUCH WORDING MEANS THE IR FORMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PROCESSED, IN WHICH CASE THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY THE IR RATES IN THE NORMAL WAY, I.E. IN PERSON OR BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER.