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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1974
RENTS OF CERTAIN ESTATES REVISED
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THE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS REVISED THE RENTS OF SOME 11,500 VACANT DOMESTIC FLATS IN A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES MOST OF WHICH WERE COMPLETED RECENTLY.
AND FRUE VEY RENTS RANGE FROM $58 TO $146 FOR A FIVE-PERSON FLAT
TO $179 FOR A SEVEN-PERSON FLAT. THE $58 FIVE-PERSON FLATS AND THE $84 SEVEN-PERSON FLATS ARE ONLY AVAILABLE AT SAN FAT ESTATE IN CASTLE PEAK.
RENTS OF THE FLATS WERE FIXED, IN SOME CASES, AS FAR BACK AS 1968 WHEN THE FIRST BLOCK WAS COMPLETED, BUT NO PROVISION WAS MADE TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT RISING COSTS OF CONSTRUCTION, MATERIAL AND LABOUR. COSTS OF MAINTENANCE, MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF THESE ESTATES HAVE ALSO RISEN IN RECENT YEARS.
THESE FLATS ARE TO CATER FOR PEOPLE FROM DEVELOPMENT CLEARANCES, DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTER AND OTHERS.
+EVEN WITH THE ADJUSTMENT THE RENTS WOULD BEAR NO RELATIONSHIP TO THOSE OF PRIVATE DOMESTIC BUILDINGS IN THE VICINITY, AS THEY ARE IN MOST CASES BELOW THE RENT ALLOWANCE GRANTED UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME.
+FURTHERMORE, IT WOULD NOT RESULT IN ANY PROFIT TO THE AUTHORITY AT ALL, + A SPOKESMAN FOR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT EMPHASISED.
HE ADDED THAT IF THERE ARE GENUINE HARDSHIP CASES, HOUSING DEPARTMENT STAFF WOULD REFER THEM TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR INVESTIGATION AND ASSISTANCE.
+HOWEVER, IN CERTAIN CASES THEY MAY CHOOSE A LOWER RENT DOMESTIC FLAT IN AN OLDER ESTATE, IF AVAILABLE, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
ONE MONTH TO PROCESS TAX REFUNDS
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THE MINIMUM TIME REQUIRED TO PROCESS THE MORE STRAIGHT- FORWARD CLAIMS FOR REFUND OF SALARIES OR PROFITS TAX IS NORMALLY BETWEEN A MONTH AND SIX WEEKS.
THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. DAVID JORDAN, SAID THIS IN REPLY TO THE HON. 'WILFRED WONG AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE SAID THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE HAD NEVER ATTEMPTED TO STRIKE AN AVERAGE FOR THE TIME IT TOOK TO PROCESS CLAIMS FOR REFUND.
THE AMOUNT OF INVESTIGATION REQUIRED AND THE TIME TAKEN TO DO IT VARIED ENORMOUSLY, MR. JORDAN ADDED.
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