WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 1983
5
LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL APPROVED
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THE AD HOC GROUP OF 12 UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL CONVENED BY THE HON PETER C. WONG TO EXAMINE THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) MOVED AMENDMENTS TO EIGHT CLAUSES OF THE BILL DURING THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
THE AMENDMENTS WERE PROPOSED BY THREE MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP, THE HON S.L. CHEN, THE HON JOHN SWAINE AND THE HON MARIA TAM.
MR CHEN MOVED AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSES 11 AND 30(D) TO RESTORE THE ORIGINAL SPIRIT OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE REGARDING THE PROTECTION ON RENT INCREASE AND SECURITY OF TENURE TO BE GIVEN TO DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBERS OF A DECEASED TENANT.
+SUCH PROTECTION WILL NOW BE LIMITED TO THOSE DEPENDENT FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WERE RESIDING WITH THE TENANT AT THE TIME OF HIS DEATH, AND WILL NOT BE PASSED ON IN PERPETUITY,+ SAID MR CHEN.
MR SWAINE MOVED AMENDMENTS TO FOUR CLAUSES OF THE BILL.
+THE AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSES 15(H) AND 37(A) WILL HAVE THE EFFECT OF RETAINING THE TWO-YEAR RESTRICTION ON THE LANDLORD'S POWER TO DEAL WITH RE-POSSESSED PREMISES AS FROM THE DATE OF THE ORDER OR DECISION OF THE LANDS TRIBUNAL, HE SAID.
THE AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 24(3) WILL LIMIT THE POWER OF THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION TO REQUIRE THE SUPPLY OF INFORMATION TO SUCH AS IS REASONABLY REQUIRED FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENFORCING PART 11.
THE AMENDMENT TO CLAUSE 25 WILL ENSURE THAT AN OFFENCE IS COMMITTED ONLY IF THERE IS NO REASONABLE EXCUSE FOR THE WITHHOLDING OF INFORMATION OR FOR OTHER OBSTRUCTION OF THE COMMISSIONER IN THE EXERCISE OF HIS POWERS.
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MISS TAM MOVED AMENDMENTS TO CLAUSE 15(G) AND THE IIATION OF A NEW CLAUSE 40B TO AMEND SECTION 119P OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT A SUB-TENANT, HO HAS BECOME DIRECT TENANT IN ABSENTEE PRINCIPAL TENANT CASES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SUB-LET AGAIN WITHOUT THE LANDLORD'S WRITTEN PER/1SSION, EVEN THOUGH THE SUB-LETTING IS NOT IN BREACH OF CONTRACTUAL TERMS OF THE ORIGINAL TENANCY.
THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE KON DONALD LIAC, IN HIS SPEECH THANKED MEMBERS WHO HAD SPOKEN ON THE BILL.
THE OBJECT OF THE BILL, MR LIAO SAID, WAS NOT TO STIMULATE THE PROPERTY MARKET, BUT RATHER TO BALANCE THE LEGITIMATE RISMIL AND ASPIRATIONS OF BOTH LANDLORDS AND TENANTS.