WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988
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LEASE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES TO PREVENT IMPROPER USE
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BREACH
THE GOVERNMENT TAKES LEASE ENFORCEMENT MEASURES AGAINST OF LEASE CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO PREVENT IMPROPER USE OF PRIVATE LAND AND BUILDINGS, AND TO SUPPORT OBJECTIVES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON ROBIN SAUNDERS, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON POON CHI-FAI, MR SAUNDERS ALSO STRESSED THAT SUCH LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS WERE CARRIED OUT FAIRLY, PROFESSIONALLY, AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH WELL-DEFINED PROCEDURES.
TEAM IN
HE SAID THERE WAS A SMALL LEASE ENFORCEMENT DISTRICT LANDS OFFICE OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT.
EVERY
DISTRICT LANDS OFFICERS WORKED TO PRIORITIES WHICH WERE AIMED AT ENSURING THAT THE WORST OFFENDERS WERE DEALT WITH FIRST, HE SAID.
"THE TOP PRIORITIES ARE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS IN RESIDENTIAL OR NON-INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS, PARTICULARLY THOSE UNDERTAKINGS WHICH ARE DANGEROUS OR OBNOXIOUS, MR SAUNDERS SAID.
It
WHEN A BREACH OF CONDITIONS WAS DISCOVERED, HE SAID, THE OWNER WOULD BE SENT A WARNING LETTER IDENTIFYING THE BREACH AND GIVING THE OWNER ONE MONTH TO REMEDY THE SITUATION.
"IF THE BREACH IS SUFFICIENTLY SERIOUS TO NEED MORE THAN ONE MONTH'S WORK TO REMEDY IT, THEN AN EXTENSION OF TIME WILL BE GIVEN, SUBJECT TO THE PAYMENT OF FORBEARANCE FEES, то ENABLE THE OWNER TO TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION.
AND TAKES WILL
"IT IS ONLY IF AN OWNER IGNORES THE WARNING LETTERS NO REMEDIAL ACTION THAT THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT INVOKE THE ULTIMATE SANCTION OF RE-ENTRY. RE-ENTRY IS THEREFORE ONLY TAKEN AS A LAST RESORT IF ALL OTHER AVENUES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED," HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT IF A BREACH OF CONDITIONS OCCURRED, THIS USUALLY A MATTER OF FACT. BUT IN CASES OF DOUBT, LEGAL ADVICE SOUGHT BEFORE LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION WAS INITIATED.
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