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WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 1984
THE MAIN PROPOSALS OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 WERE EXPLAINED BY MR LIAO AND THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION IN A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLY THIS MONTH.
PUBLIC COMMENTS MAY BE MADE TO UMELCO, AT SWIRE HOUSE, CHATER ROAD, OR TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, AT THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED,
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RELIEF MEASURES ON INCREASED RATEABLE VALUES
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THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, TODAY MOVED A RESOLUTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, PROVIDING FOR RELIEF MEASURES DESIGNED TO SOFTEN THE IMPACT OF THE INCREASED RATEABLE VALUES IN 1984-85.
THESE RELIEF MEASURES COMPRISE:
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REDUCTIONS IN THE GENERAL RATE AND URBAN COUNCIL RATE PERCENTAGES,
A 20 PER CENT LIMIT ON THE INCREASE IN RATE PAYMENT OVER THAT PAYABLE IN THE PREVIOUS YEAR,
AN INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM RATEABLE VALUE TO $1 000, AND
A 7.5 PER CENT OR 15 PER CENT REDUCTION IN THE RATES PAYABLE ON TENEMENTS WITHOUT FILTERED WATER SUPPLY OR WITHOUT FRESH WATER SUPPLY RESPECTIVELY.
THE RELIEF MEASURES CAME INTO EFFECT ON FEBRUARY 29 AS A RESULT OF A PUBLIC REVENUE PROTECTION ORDER, SIR JOHN SAID.
DEMAND NOTES NOTIFYING RATEPAYERS OF THEIR NEW RATEABLE VALUES AND THE AMOUNT OF RATES PAYABLE FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 1984 WERE ISSUED THAT DAY TO MEET THE REQUIREMENT UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE, HE ADDED.
+THE GENERAL RATES YIELD FOR 1984-85, WITH THE RELIEF PROVISIONS, IS ESTIMATED AT $1.35 BILLION.
+THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $175 MILLION OVER WHAT MAY BE COLLECTED IN 1984-85 WITHOUT THE GENERAL REVALUATION OF RATEABLE VALUES,+ HE SAID.
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