XN000022-1973-12-12 — Page 11

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Wednesday, December 12, 1973

ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON RENT CONTROL PROPOSED

The Government was today urged to set up an advisory committee

on rent control and a commission of inquiry into housing matters.

The proposals vere put forward to the Legislative Council by

the Hon. P.C. Wen when he spoke at the resumed debate on the Landlord

and Tenant (Consolidation) (Amendment) (Na, 2) Bill 1973.

He said these were some of the points raised in representations

made to the Unofficial Members of the Council since the Bill was published.

It was proposed that the advisory committee should include members

of the public representing both tenants and landlords as well as developers..

This committee would keep under review the level of rents and the

operation of rent control legislation.

Mr. Woo felt that the idea had much to commend it. 1"The

complexities of rent control have become very apparent during the course af

enactment of legislation this year on the subject.

"Obviously there will have to be further legislation in the

future since the control of rent increases cannot be abolished overnight."

He noted that it would be very useful to have a standing committee

which could keep under review all these complexities and propose amendments

which might be needed to suit the changing circumstances, or the needs of

particular groups or categories of cases.

11The same committee would be consulted on the details of future

draft legislation. This would be in accordance with Government's announced

intention of taking responsible public opinion into account before making

final decisions," he added.

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