XN000022-1979-09-27 — Page 2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1979

FORM TO OBTAIN INFORMATION FROM RATEPAYERS PUBLISHED

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A FORM WHICH THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT WILL USE TO OBTAIN FROM RATEPAYERS INFORMATION ON RENTS AND OTHER PARTICULARS OF PROPERTY, WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SAID THE FORM (FORM R1A) WOULD BE SENT EARLY NEXT MONTH (OCTOBER) TO ALL RATEPAYERS, WHO ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO RETURN IT TO THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN 28 DAYS. THE FORM, WHICH IS IN BOTH CHINESE AND ENGLISH, MAY BE COMPLETED IN EITHER LANGUAGE.

EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF SENDING OUT THE FORM NOW, THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE INFORMATION WAS REQUIRED TO ASSIST THE DEPARTMENT IN DETERMINING TO WHAT EXTENT EXISTING RATEABLE VALUES ARE OUT OF DATE. HE EMPHASISED THAT. ALTHOUGH THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE SPENDING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF TIME IN 1980 PREPARING FOR A REVISION OF RATEABLE VALUES. NO DECISION HAD YET BEEN MADE AS TO WHETHER OR WHEN SUCH UPDATED VALUES SHOULD BE USED.

BEFORE NEW VALUATION LISTS CAN BE PREPARED AND BROUGHT INTO EFFECT IT IS NECESSARY FOR THE GOVERNOR TO GIVE A DIRECTION UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE AND NO SUCH DIRECTION HAS YET BEEN GIVEN.

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS BUDGET SPEECH EARLIER THIS YEAR SAID THAT, ALTHOUGH HE INTENDED DEFERRING REVIEWING RATEABLE VALUES FOR THE TIME BEING, SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THE CARRYING OUT OF SUCH AN EXERCISE IN 1980 WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN DURING THE YEAR. FORMERLY, REVIEWS OF RATEABLE VALUES WERE CARRIED OUT FAIRLY FREQUENTLY (12 TIMES FROM 1950 TO 1969), BUT WITH THE GROWTH OF THE VALUATION LISTS IT HAS BEEN POSSIBLE TO BRING NEW LISTS INTO EFFECT ON ONLY TWO OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE MAIN PURPOSE OF UP-DATING RATEABLE VALUES IS TO MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE TAX BASE AND TO ENSURE THAT THE INCIDENCE OF THE TAX IS FAIRLY DISTRIBUTED, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT RELATIVE CHANGES IN VALUES OF DIFFERENT PREMISES. IT IS NOT A REVENUE RAISING EXERCISE SINCE THE BURDEN OF THE TAX IS DETERMINED BY THE PERCENTAGE CHARGES SET EACH YEAR BY RESOLUTION OF LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

HE RECALLED THAT. ON THE LAST TWO OCCASIONS WHEN RATEABLE VALUES WERE REVISED, THE INCREASED VALUES HAD LARGELY BEEN OFFSET BY REDUCTIONS IN THE PERCENTAGE CHARGES, WHICH DETERMINED RATEPAYERS" BILLS.

ANYONE IN DOUBT AS TO HOW TO COMPLETE THE FORM SHOULD CALL ON, OR TELEPHONE, THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT AT 1 GARDEN ROAD (TEL. 5-249021) OR AT 22 FENWICK STREET (NEW MERCURY HOUSE, TEL. 5-281424) OR AT 24-34 HENNESSY ROAD (TAI SANG COMMERCIAL BUILDING, TEL. 5-284037) WHERE ASSISTANCE WILL GLADLY BE GIVEN. ASSISTANCE MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT ANY OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES OR DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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