XN000022-1981-01-21 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1981

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ON

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+ IN THE ABSENCE OF CONTROL THERE IS A DANGER THAT UNRULY OR UNLAWFUL BEHAVIOUR MAY OCCUR, OR THAT THE FREE MOVEMENT OF PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC MAY BE OBSTRUCTED, MR DAVIES EXPLAINED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

NO INCREASE IN DOMESTIC FLATS KEPT VACANT

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THERE IS NO INDICATION OF ANY SIGNIFICANT RISE IN THE NUMBER OF DOMESTIC FLATS BEING KEPT VACANT, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE LEVEL OF VACANCIES AT THE END OF 1979 AT 3.2 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL IS ABOUT THE SAME IN PERCENTAGE TERM AS IN 1973 AND SLIGHTLY LOWER THAN 1974, AND CERTAINLY A FAR CRY FROM THE MID-SIXTIES WHEN OVER 19 000 FLATS OR NEARLY 9 PER CENT OF THE THEN TOTAL STOCK REMAINED VACANT FOR A CONSIDERABLE PERIOD, HE SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRY HU.

HE SAID THE SITUATION WAS BEING KEPT UNDER REVIEW THROUGH THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION'S PROPERTY SURVEYS AT REGULAR INTERVALS.

ACCORDING TO THE 1980 PROPERTY REVIEW, DOMESTIC VACANCIES AT THE END OF 1979 IN RESPECT OF NEW PREMISES COMPLETED DURING THAT YEAR TOTALLED 11 200 UNITS, OR JUST OVER 40 PER CENT OF THE NUMBER BUILT.

A MID-YEAR REVIEW IN JUNE 1980 SHOWED THAT OF THE 27 565 UNITS COMPLETED IN THE PRECEDING TWELVE MONTHS 11 405 OR 41.3 PER CENT WERE VACANT, SHOWING A MARGINAL INCREASE.

ENQUIRIES INDICATED THAT A LARGE PROPORTION OF THESE HAD BEEN VACANT FOR A LONGER PERIOD AND THAT THE MAJORITY OF THESE UNITS WERE IN THE HANDS OF INDIVIDUAL OWNERS.

MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT THE REASONS FOR PREMISES BEING KEPT VACANT WERE VARIOUS, AND THE POSSIBILITY COULD NOT BE RULED OUT THAT SOME WERE BEING HOARDED FOR SPECULATIVE REASONS.

IN OTHER CASES OWNERS MAY BE RELUCTANT TO LET OUT THE IR PROPERTY AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF THE EFFECT THAT RENT CONTROL LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE ON SUCH LETTINGS IN THE FUTURE.

HOWEVER SINCE 1974 FULL RATES HAVE BEEN LEVIED ON ALL DOMESTIC PREMISES, WHETHER OCCUPIED OR NOT, THREE MONTHS AFTER THE ISSUE OF AN OCCUPATION PERMIT. THIS IS INTENDED TO DISCOURAGE OWNERS FROM KEEPING PREMISES VACANT, MR LIAO SAID.

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