XN000022-1982-05-19 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1982

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MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS

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THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON DENIS BRAY, SAID TODAY YEDNESDAY) THAT IT WAS NOT APPROPRIATE TO USE STATUTORY POWERS TO DEAL WITH EXTERNAL PAINT WORK OF DOMESTIC BUILDINGS.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, STATUTORY POWERS CONTAINED IN THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE EXISTED AND HAD BEEN USED IN THE INTERESTS OF PUBLIC HYGIENE TO CLEAR CHOKED DRAINS, REPAIR WALL AND FLOOR SURFACES, CLEAN AND LIMEWASH INTERNAL PARTS OF THE BUILDINGS.

MR BRAY WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO WHO ASKED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER REQUIRING THE LANDLORDS OR TENANTS OF THE OLDER DEGENERATED BUILDINGS TO UNDERTAKE REPAINTING AND BASIC MAINTENANCE WORKS TO ENSURE MINIMUM STANDARDS OF CLEANLINESS AND PUBLIC HYGIENE.+

MR BRAY ALSO SAID THAT IF THE URBAN COUNCIL IN THE URBAN AREA, OR THE DIRECTOR OF URBAN SERVICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, CONSIDERED ANY PREMISES CONSTITUTED A NUISANCE, OR POSED A DANGER TO HEALTH, OR DETRACTED FROM THE AMENITIES OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD, THEY COULD REQUIRE THE OWNER OR OCCUPIER TO LIMEWASH, PAINT OR CLEAN THEM.

THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY MIGHT ALSO REQUIRE THE OWNER OR OCCUPIER TO REPAIR DRAINS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE BUILDING IN THE INTERESTS OF GENERAL SANITATION AND CLEANLINESS.

PERMITTED RENTS OF PREWAR PREMISES RAISED

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY PASSED A RESOLUTION REVISING THE PERMITTED RENTS PAYABLE FOR PREWAR PREMISES WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO RENT CONTROLS UNDER PART I OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE.

FOR PREWAR DOMESTIC PREMISES, THE PERMITTED RENTS WILL BE RAISED FROM THE EXISTING LEVEL OF EIGHT TIMES THE STANDARD RENT (THAT IS THE RENT PASSING IN 1941) TO 12 TIMES, AND THAT OF PREWAR BUSINESS PREMISES FROM 18 TO 27 TIMES THE STANDARD RENT, PROVIDED THAT THE PERMITTED RENT DOES NOT EXCEED THE FAIR MARKET RENT FOR THE PREMISES.

MOVING THE RESOLUTION IN COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING THE HON DONALD LIAO SAID THE RELAXATION WOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF ABOUT $170 PER MONTH FOR A TYPICAL UPPER FLOOR DOMESTIC TENEMENT UNIT, BRINGING THE RENT TO ABOUT $500, OR 26 PER CENT OF ITS MARKET RENT.

ABOUT 3 500 DOMESTIC UNITS IN PREWAR BUILDINGS ARE LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED.

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