XN000022-1981-07-02 — Page 4

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 1981

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RATES FOR THIRD QUARTER DUE

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THE TREASURY REMINDED RATEPAYERS TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT RATES FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR SHOULD BE PAID ON OR BEFORE JULY 31.

A SURCHARGE OF FIVE PER CENT WOULD BE IMPOSED ON LATE PAYMENTS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE TREASURY SAID. AND IF THE PAYMENTS ARE STILL NOT SETTLED, A SURCHARGE OF 10 PER CENT MIGHT BE ADDED.

+RATEPAYERS SHOULD HAVE BY NOW RECEIVED DEMAND NOTES AND THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SHOULD APPLY FOR A COPY AT THE RATES SECTION OF THE TREASURY, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES (WEST WING), 9TH FLOOR,

CE HOUSE STREET, HONG KONG.+

+WHETHER OR NOT THE DEMAND NOTE IS RECEIVED, IT DOES NOT ALTER THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE RATES SHOULD BE PAID BEFORE THE DUE DATE,+ HE POINTED CUT.

THE SPOKESMAN ALSO SAID THAT RATES WERE PAYABLE ON VACANT PREMISES BUT WERE REFUNDABLE UNDER CONDITIONS SPECIFIED IN THE RATING ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, NO REFUNDS WOULD BE PAYABLE IN THE CASE OF A VACANT TENEMENT LAST USED, OR INTENDED TO BE USED, WHOLLY OR PRIMARILY FOR DOMESTIC PURPOSES (UNLESS VACANT BY REASON OF AN ORDER OF THE GOVERNMENT).

TO AVOID QUEUEING, RATEPAYERS ARE URGED TO PAY BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER SENT BY POST OR BY EARLY PERSONAL ATTENDANCE AT ANY OF THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICES LISTED ON THE BACK OF THE DEMAND NOTE.

THEY ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT THEY CAN NOW MAKE USE OF THE NEWLY-INTRODUCED AUTOPAY SERVICE TO SETTLE THE IR RATES.

A LEAFLET NOTIFYING ALL RATEPAYERS OF THE NEW SERVICE HAS BEEN SENT OUT WITH THE RATES DEMAND NOTE FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF THIS YEAR.

+ANYONE WHO HAS A CURRENT OR SAVINGS ACCOUNT WITH ANY LICENSED BANK IN HONG KONG CAN MAKE USE OF THIS SERVICE, HE ADDED.

DIRECT DEBIT AUTHORISATION FORMS MAY BE OBTAINED IN PERSON FROM ANY TREASURY COLLECTION OFFICE, BY WRITING TO DIRECTOR OF ACCOUNTING SERVICES, P.0. BOX 8 000, HONG KONG OR BY TELEPHONING 5-221394, 5-258845 OR 5-232741. COMPLETED FORMS SHOULD BE RETURNED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO THE TREASURY AS INDICATED IN THE FORM.

RATEPAYERS WHO HAVE ALREADY SUBMITTED THE IR AUTOPAY FORMS SHOULD READ THE IR DEMAND NOTES CAREFULLY TO SEE IF THEY CONTAIN THE WORDING →PAYMENT BY AUTOPAY AS AUTHORISED. THE ABSENCE OF SUCH WORDING MEANS THE IR FORMS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PROCESSED, IN WHICH CASE THEY SHOULD CONTINUE TO PAY THEIR RATES IN THE NORMAL WAY, I.E. IN PERSON OR BY CHEQUE OR MONEY ORDER.

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