SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1986
EXTENSION OF RATING THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY
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THE EXISTING RATING AREAS WILL BE EXTENDED TO COVER THE WHOLE OF THE TERRITORY WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1, 1988, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY, FOLLOWING DISCUSSION WITH THE HEUNG YEE KUK.
THIS WOULD MEAN ALL PROPERTIES IN HONG KONG OTHER THAN THOSE SPECIFICALLY EXEMPTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE RATING ORDINANCE WOULD IN DUE COURSE BE ASSESSED TO RATES.
HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH LARGE STRETCHES OF THE AREAS TO BE INCLUDED ARE STILL UNDEVELOPED, SOME SCATTERED DEVELOPMENTS HAD ALREADY TAKEN PLACE AND MORE ARE PLANNED.
+FURTHERMORE, THE SINO-BRITISH AGREEMENT ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG PROVIDES THAT ALL PROPERTIES HELD ON LEASES WHICH ARE EXTENDED BEFORE JUNE 30, 1997 UNDER THE AGREEMENT WILL (WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS) BE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL RENT OF THREE PER CENT OF THE RATEABLE VALUE. THIS WILL NECESSITATE THE PROVISION OF A RATE ABLE VALUE FOR EACH SUCH CASE AND THE EXTENSION OF THE RATING AREAS IS A NECESSARY STEP IN THIS DIRECTION, HE ADDED.
ASSURANCES HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE HEUNG YEE KUK THAT THE EXEMPTION OF VILLAGE HOUSES OCCUPIED BY INDIGENOUS RESIDENTS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL CONTINUE TO APPLY IN THESE AREAS.
CERTAIN VILLAGES WILL BE DESIGNATED AS DESIGNATED VILLAGE AREAS FOR EXEMPTION PURPOSES WITHIN THE EXTENSION AREA.
+ STAFF FROM THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT WILL SHORTLY BEGIN INSPECTING PREMISES WITHIN THE EXTENDED AREAS IN ORDER TO DETERMINE WHICH PROPERTIES NEED TO BE ASSESSED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
REQUISITION FORMS WOULD BE ISSUED AS PART OF THIS EXERCISE AND THESE SHOULD BE RETURNED WITHIN ONE MONTH OF RECEIPT.
NOTICES WILL BE ISSUED TO RATEPAYERS EARLY IN 1988 ADVISING THEM OF THE PROPOSED RATEABLE VALUE OF THEIR PROPERTIES, HE ADDED.
RATES WILL BE CHARGED AT A PERCENTAGE OF THESE RATEARLE VALUES AS DE TERMINED BY RESOLUTION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
RATI MAYERS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN ADVICE REGARDING SUCH NOTIFS AND WILL ALSO BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT IF THEY FEEL AGGRIEVED. THE PERIOD FOR MAKING SUCH OBJECTIONS WILL AF MARCH 1993.
IT INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS LIVING IN TRADITIONAL VILLAGE UOUSES RECEIVE A NOTICE OF RATEABLE VALUF. THEY WILL BE ABLE TO APPLY TO THE REGIONAL SECRETARY OF THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR EXEMPTION FROM PAYMENT OF RATES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.