XN000022-1973-10-19 — Page 2

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Friday, October 19, 1973

NEW RENT CONTROL SCHEME.

All Existing Post-War Flats Protected

All existing post-war domestic premises, regardless of their

rateable value, are to be provided security of tenure up to the end of

November 1976.

At the same time, to encourage private developers to contribute

as much as possible to the overall housing programme, tenancies in new

buildings cortified for occupation after the enactment of new control

legislation will not be subject to control.

Certain other types of tenancies, such as those held from the

Hong Kong Housing Authority, the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Hong

Kong Model Housing Society, are also excluded.

Details of the new control legislation are set out in the

Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) (No.2) Bill, published in today's

gazette.

Under its provisions, landlords and tenants are free to negotiate

any increase in rents by agreement at any time.

Otherwise the landlord is only permitted to increase the rent

by a fair amount not excreding 21 per cent one year after the last

increase or after the commencement of the tenancy if the premises are

let before the enactment of the legislation; or two years from the date

of tenancy if the premises are let after the enactment,

Such an increase will control the rent at the new figure for a

period of two years, even if the period should extend beyond November 1976,

after the legislation expires.

The amount