XN000022-1975-01-08 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 0, 1975

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NEW LANDLORD AND TENANT LEGISLATION PROPOSED

LANDLORDS AND PRINCIPAL TENANTS OF PRE-WAR PREMISES WILL BE ABLE TO RECOUP FROM THEIR TENANTS AND SUD-TENANTS ANY INCREASE IN RATES IMPOSED UNDER THE LANDLORD AND TEHANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1975 INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. IAN LIGHTBODY, SAID THE BILL WOULD BRING PRE-WAR PREMISES INTO LINE WITH OTHER RATED PREMISES.

HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT AN INCREASE THIS YEAR WOULD ARISE ONLY IF THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE PERCENTAGE RATE.

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HE RECALLED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY GAVE NOTICE IN HIS 1974 BUDGET SPEECH THAT, DECAUSE OF THE DEFERMENT OF THE REVALUATION, HE INTENDED TO PROPOSE AN INCREASE IN THE GENERAL RATE FOR 1975-76.

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+RATES BASICALLY ARE A TAX ON OCCUPIERS OF PREMISES AND SO PROVISION WAS MADE IN THE 1973 TENURE AND RENT CONTROLS WHICH APPLY TO POST-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES FOR LANDLORDS TO INCREASE THE RENT BY AN AMOUNT EQUAL TO ANY INCREASE IN RATES, MR. LIGHTBODY SAID,

+HOWEVER, IN THE CASE OF PRE-WAR PREMISES NO SUCH PROVISION EXISTS AND, THEREFORE, SHOULD THERE DE AN INCREASE IN RATES FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THOSE LANDLORDS WHO ACCEPT THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF RATES WOULD BE UNABLE TO PASS THE INCREASE ON TO THEIR TENANTS.+

MUCH OF THE BILL, HE POINTED OUT, COVERED THE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY NECESSARY TO GIVE EFFECT TO ANY INCREASES IN RENT OF TENANCIES OR SUB-TENANCIES STEMMING FROM AN INCREASE IN RATES.

PROVISION WAS MADE FOR THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION TO ASSIST BY APPORTIONING OR AGGREGATING RATEABLE VALUES WHERE PREMISES WERE SUB-LET OR IN MORE THAN ONE OCCUPATION.

THE BILL, MR. LIGHTBODY ADDED, ALSO COVERED THE POSITION WHERE RATES WERE IMPOSED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS, FOR INSTANCE, IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

IN ADDITION, THE OPPORTUNITY HAD BEEN TAKEN TO EXPAND AND CLARIFY THE EXISTING SIMILAR PROVISIONS IN PART 1 OF THE ORDINANCE DEALING WITH POST-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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