XN000022-1982-08-25 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 1982

BUT THE INCREASES OFTEN DIFFER BETWEEN CLASSES OF PROPERTY AND AREAS, DIFFERENCES WHICH MAY NOT BE REFLECTED IN CURRENT RATE ABLE VALUES.

A REVALUATION IS IN ITSELF NOT A REVENUE-RAISING EXERCISE, FOR THE YIELD FROM RATES IS ESTABLISHED BY THE PERCENTAGE RATES, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.

RATES FOR BOTH GOVERNMENT AND URBAN COUNCIL PURPOSES ARE SET BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH DETERMINES WHAT THE PERCENTAGE RATES SHOULD BE FOR ANY YEAR.

ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A CHANGE FOR 1982-83 IN THE PROPORTION OF RATES ALLOCATED TO THE URBAN COUNCIL, THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE TOTAL PERCENTAGE RATE IN THE URBAN AREAS SINCE 1977-78.

THE SPOKESMAN RECALLED THAT ON THE LAST TWO OCCASIONS WHEN REVISED RATEABLE VALUES CAME INTO FORCE ON APRIL 1, 1973 AND APRIL 1, 1977, THE INCREASED VALUES WERE LARGELY OFFSET BY REDUCTIONS IN THE PERCENTAGE CHARGES SO THAT RATEPAYERS IN SOME CASES FOUND THEMSELVES PAYING LESS THAN BEFORE.

THE SPOKESMAN URGED RATEPAYERS TO FURNISH CORRECT INFORMATION AND RETURN THE FORMS TO THE DEPARTMENT WITHIN 21 DAYS.

FAILURE TO DO SO IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE RATING ORDINANCE.

FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF RATEPAYERS, A POSTAGE-PREPAID RETURN ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED WITH EACH FORM.

THOSE WHO NEED HELP IN COMPLETING THE FORM MAY VISIT OR TELEPHONE THE DEPARTMENT ON THE 17TH FLOOR OF HENNESSY CENTRE, 500 HENNESSY ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG (TELEPHONE NUMBER 5-7957888).

ASSISTANCE MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT ANY OF THE CITY DISTRICT OFFICES OR DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

GREATER SAFETY AWARENESS AMONG EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES

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THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED 55 000 INSPECTIONS OF FACTORIES AND CONSTRUCTION SITES AND INVESTIGATED 4 000 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS LAST YEAR.

AS A RESULT, 3 800 PROSECUTIONS WERE TAKEN OUT FOR BREACHES OF SAFETY REGULATIONS, WITH FINES TOTALLING $4.7 MILLION, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF FACTORY INSPECTORS, MR GEORGE KOTWALL, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF VICTORIA, MR KOTWALL POINTED OUT THAT APART FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT, THE INSPECTORATE UNDERTOOK SAFETY TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES.

/LAST YEAR,

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