FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1993
AND
IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS DIRECTION, STAFF OF THE RATING VALUATION DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN PREPARING VALUATIONS FOR ALL RATEABLE PROPERTIES THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY.
THE VALUATION WORK IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BARLY NEXT YEAR.
RATEPAYERS WILL BE INFORMED OF THE NEW RATEABLE VALUES WHEN THEY RECEIVE THE SECOND QUARTER 1994 RATE DEMANDS IN LATE MARCH OR EARLY APRIL 1994.
THEY WILL ALSO BE ABLE TO INSPECT THE VALUATION LISTS IN APRIL AND MAY 1994 WHEN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO MAKE PROPOSALS OBJECTING TO THE NEW RATEABLE VALUES.
THE VALUATION LISTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE TREASURY AND AT DISTRICT OFFICES.
REFERRING то THE LIKELY INCREASES IN RATEABLE VALUES, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED THAT THESE WILL VARY BECAUSE RENTAL VALUES, ON WHICH RATEABLE VALURS ARE BASED, HAVE INCREASED BY DIFFERENT AMOUNTS SINCE JULY 1990, DEPENDING ON THE CLASS OF PROPERTY AND ALSO ON CHANGES IN TRANSPORT FACILITIES, ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER FACTORS.
OVERALL THE INCREASE IS LIKELY TO BE AROUND 30 PER CERTAIN PROPERTIES WILL EXPERIENCE HIGHER INCREASE CORRESPONDINGLY HIGHER INCREASES IN THEIR RENTAL VALUES OVER THREE YEARS.
CENT
BUT DUE TO PAST
THE
SECRETARY
THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED RATEPAYERS THAT THE FINANCIAL IN HIS 1993/94 BUDGET SPEECH UNDERTOOK TO PROPOSE A "CAP" ON RATES INCREASE IN 1994/95 TO ALLOW TIME FOR THOSE WITH PARTICULARLY HIGH INCREASES TO ADJUST TO THE NEW LEVELS OF CHARGE.
EDUCATION COMMISSION STUDIES WILL LEAD TO
"NEW THINKING ABOUT EDUCATION QUALITY"
YET
THE EDUCATION COMMISSION IS AIMING TO DEVELOP A "VISIONARY PRACTICAL STRATEGY FOR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS" IN EDUCATION, AND THE THREE STUDIES IT IS NOW CONDUCTING PROMISE TO RESULT IN SOME "PATH- BREAKING NEW THINKING ABOUT EDUCATION QUALITY".
THIS WAS SAID BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN A SPEECH AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH TODAY (FRIDAY). MR LEUNG IS THE VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION.
IN HIS SPEECH, MR LEUNG DENIED THAT THE COMMISSION OPERATED IN A "SECRETIVE" MANNER.
"THE COMMISSION
CONDUCTS ITS DISCUSSIONS OUT OF THE PUBLIC ARENA, NOT BECAUSE THE ISSUES ARE INHERENTLY SECRETIVE, BUT 80 THAT MEMBERS CAN EXPLORE AND EXPRESS THEIR VIEWS IN AN UNFETTERED MANNER, MR LEUNG SAID.
"
/HE POINTED