XN000022-1980-01-11 — Page 6

FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 1980

SIR JACK: NOT AT ALL,

5

NOT AT ALL, QUITE THE OPPOSITE. I HAVE BEEN IMPRESSED IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LEADERS OF THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT HOW MUCH THEY ADMIRE THE WAY HONG KONG IS RUN AND HOW PLEASED THEY ARE TO HAVE HONG KONG. SO I DON'T THINK THAT'S A PROBLEM AND I THINK TOO THAT THE WAY THEY HAVE HELPED US AND PROMISED MORE HELP IN TERMS OF DEFENCE, WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS IN IMMIGRATION, AND HERE I SHOULD SAY WHAT A MAGNIFICENT JON THE ARMY IS DOING ALONG WITH THE POLICE FORCE IN HELPING TO PREVENT PEOPLE FROM JUST FLOODING ACROSS THAT BORDER OF OURS AND WE IN HONG KONG OWE THEM A GREAT DEBT OF GRATITUDE. SO QUITE THE OPPOSITE, I THINK THAT THE GOVERNMENT IN BRITAIN IS PLEASED AND PROUD OF HONG KONG AND WANTS TO SEE IT CONTINUING.

INTERVIEWER: TO SUM U, IR JACK, WOULD YOU THINK THAT HONG

KONG FOR THE 1980'S IS GOING TO BE AS DYNAMIC A TIME AS IT WAS DURING THE 1970'S AND ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE THE KEY

ISSUE FOR HONG KONG?

SIR JACK: WITHOUT ANY DOUBT WHATSOEVER, THE ANSWER TO BOTH THESE QUESTIONS IS YES. HONG KONG ENTERS THE 1980'S WITH AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT TO ACHIEVE AND AM QUITE SURE IT WILL ACHIEVE WHATEVER IT SETS OUT TO AND THE KEY AS ALWAYS LIES IN OUR PEOPLE. WE IN HONG KONG MUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS AND NEVER FORGET IT. WE DO SO AT OUR PERIL.

RENTAL CONTROL FOR POST-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES

*****

THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION)(AMENDMENT) BILL CONTAINING RENT CONTROL PROPOSALS FOR POST-WAR DOMESTIC PREMISES WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE PROPOSALS WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AT ITS NEXT SITTING ON JANUARY 16 AND A FULL DEBATE IS EXPECTED ON JANUARY 30.

THE BILL, IF APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, WOULD MAKE EFFECTIVE THE PROPOSALS ANNOUNCED ON DECEMBER 18 LAST YEAR.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT AT THIS STAGE THE PROPOSAL WAS FOR THE PART I CONTROLS TO REMAIN IN FORCE UNTIL

DECEMBER 18, 1981.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PROPOSALS WERE INTENDED TO EXTEND THE BENEFITS OF THE PART II CONTROLS RELATING TO RENT INCREASES AND SECURITY OF TENURE TO CERTAIN CLASSES OF TENANCIES PRESENTLY EXCLUDED, THESE WERE DOMESTIC TENANCIES':

* IN BUILDINGS CERTIFIED FOR CCCUPATION AFTER DECEMBER

14, 1973-

* WHERE AGREEMENTS FOR A TERM OF THREE YEARS OR MORE

WERE ENTERED INTO AFTER DECEMBER 31, 1975- AND

*

WHERE THE TENANT WAS A PUBLIC BODY, CORPORATION, FOREIGN OR COMMONWEALTH GOVERNMENT, PARTNERSHIP OR

FIRM.

/RENTS CO