XN000022-1983-07-24 — Page 7

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SUNDAY, JULY 24, 1983

PES STAFF HANDLE 280 000 TENANCY ENQUIRIES

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SOME 280 000 ENQUIRIES ON TENANCY MATTERS WERE MADE AT THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION'S 61 PUBLIC ENQUIRY SERVICE (PES) CENTRES DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR.

THIS REPRESENTED 6.9 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL FOUR MILLION ENQUIRIES HANDLED BY THE PES STAFF.

THE MORE COMMON PROBLEMS COVERED WERE RENT INCREASES, RECOVERY OF PREMISES, REFUSAL TO ACCEPT RENT, TENANCY AGREEMENTS AND RENT ARREARS.

A CNTA SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THAT LANDLORDS OR TENANTS WHO WERE IN DOUBT OF THEIR STATUTORY RIGHTS OR OBLIGATIONS COULD ALWAYS SEEK ADVICE FROM THE PES STAFF.

+ IF FURTHER ACTIONS ARE REQUIRED, THE STAFF WILL ARRANGE FOR THE ENQUIRER TO MEET RENT OFFICERS STATIONED AT SELECTED DISTRICT OFFICES, HE SAID.

A RENT OFFICER SCHEME, RUN BY THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT, WAS LAUNCHED IN APRIL 1978.

UNDER THE SCHEME, RENT OFFICERS ARE PRESENT AT SPECIFIED DISTRICT OFFICES ON FIXED DAYS EACH WEEK TO DISCUSS WITH THE PUBLIC THEIR TENANCY PROBLEMS,

THEY ALSO ADVISE ON TENANCY MATTERS RELATED TO THE VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE, THE DEMOLISHED BUILDING (RE-DEVELOPMENT OF SITES) ORDINANCE, AND OTHER LAWS CONCERNING LANDLORD AND TENANT RELATIONSHIP.

DURING THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR, THE RENT OFFICERS DEALT WITH 13 000 ENQUIRIES - A 3.5 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

THE SPOKESMAN REMINDED THE PUBLIC THAT THEY COULD APPROACH ANY OF THE 61 PES CENTRES OR CONTACT THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT FOR ADVICE ON ANY RENTAL PROBLEMS.

OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE AT THE PES CENTRES INCLUDE THE ADMINISTERING OF STATUTORY DECLARATIONS, ANSWERING ENQUIRIES ON GOVERNMENT SERVICES, DISTRIBUTION OF FORMS AND INFORMATION PAMPHLETS, AND FREE LEGAL ADVICE.

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