XN000022-1980-01-28 — Page 3

MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 1980

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WATER FROM THE SAI KUNG ENTIRE CATCHMENT AREA IS FED INTO THE HIGH ISLAND RESERVOIR THROUGH A NETWORK OF SUBSIDIARY TUNNELS LEADING TO A MAIN TUNNEL LINKING THE RESERVOIR TO SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS AND THE LOWER SHING MUN RESERVOIR.

THE CAPACITY OF SHA TIN TREATMENT WORKS, BUILT EARLIER FOR THE PLOVER COVE SCHEME, HAS BEEN INCREASED FROM 800 000 CUBIC METRES PER DAY TO 1.1 MILLION CUBIC METRES PER DAY. THE CAPACITY OF EXISTING WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS IN KOWLOON AND HONG KONG HAVE ALSO BEEN INCREASED, AND BOOSTER STATIONS CONSTRUCTED TO SERVE SOME OF THE MORE DENSELY POPULATED AREAS.

POINTS IN RENT CONTROL BILL CLARIFIED *****

SOME LANDLORDS AND THE IR ADVISERS MAY STILL BE UNAWARE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1980 TO BE DEBATED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY (JANUARY 30).

MISS ELAINE CHUNG, PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY (HOUSING) REVEALED IN A SPEECH TO A ROTARY MEETING TODAY THAT THIS HAD COME TO GOVERNMENT'S ATTENTION IN RECENT WEEKS.

MISS CHUNG SAID THAT IF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ACCEPTED, AND DID NOT AMEND, CLAUSE 7(A) AND CLAUSE 7(B) OF THE BILL, THE EFFECT OF THE PROVISIONS WOULD BE THAT RISING RENT AGREEMENTS WHICH HAD NOT COMMENCED BY DECEMBER 18 LAST YEAR WOULD NOT BE EFFECTIVE.

SECTION 55 OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE PERMITS - AND WILL CONTINUE TO PERMIT A LANDLORD AND TENANT TO AGREE ON ANY RENT. INCREASE WITHOUT THE PRIOR APPROVAL OF THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING. AND VALUATION AS LONG AS THE COMMISSIONER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCREASE, SHE EXPLAINED.

BUT NOW, SAID MISS CHUNG, CLAUSE 7(B) OF THE BILL WOULD AMEND SECTION 55 SO THAT ANY AGREED INCREASE IN RENT PAYABLE AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1980 WOULD HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED TO THE COMMISSIONER WITHIN A MONTH OF THE DUE DATE OF THE INCREASE, IN ORDER THAT THE RENT MAY BE RECOVERABLE.

+ IF THE BILL IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THIS PROVISION WILL PREVENT UNSCRUPULOUS LANDLORDS FROM REQUIRING TENANTS TO SIGN POST DATED AGREEMENTS FOR INCREASES IN RENT UNDER SECTION 55, SO AS TO CIRCUMVENT THE STATUTORY BENEFIT TO BE CONFERRED ON SITTING TENANTS, SAID MISS CHUNG.

ANY INCREASES AGREED BETWEEN A LANDLORD AND TENANT WOULD, UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL, HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED TO THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION WITHIN A MONTH OF THE DATE ON WHICH THE AGREEMENT IS ACTUALLY SIGNED BY THE TENANT AND THE RENT INCREASE IS TO TAKE EFFECT WITHIN A MONTH OF THE DATE OF NOTIFICATION.

SHE SAID: THE POSITION IS THAT IF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL, 1980, IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, ANY RISING RENT AGREEMENT COMMENCING AFTER DECEMBER 18. 1979 AND PROVIDING FOR RENT INCREASE IN EXCESS OF THE STATUTORY FORMULA - WHICH PERMITS AT MOST AN INCREASE OF 21 PER CENT OVER TWO YEARS WILL NOT BE EFFECTIVE+.

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