XN000022-1985-03-18 — Page 9

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 1985

+THEY ARE READY TO ADVISE LANDLORDS AND TENANTS THE PROVISIONS OF THE LEGISLATION AND TO ASSIST THEM IN RESOLVING PROBLEMS CONCERNING TENANCY MATTERS,+ HE SAID.

RENT OFFICERS ALSO OFFERED MEDIATION SERVICES IN DISPUTES BETWEEN LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO TRY TO RESOLVE PROBLEMS WITHOUT HAVING TO RESORT TO FORMAL PROCEDURES OR LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT RENT OFFICERS COULD NOT EXPRESS OPINIONS ON LEGAL MATTERS AND IN CASES OF DOUBT IT MIGHT BE NECESSARY FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO SEEK EXPERT LEGAL ADVICE.

RENT OFFICERS ALSO DEALT WITH APPLICATIONS AND ISSUED CERTIFICATES UNDER THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE.

LAST YEAR, THEY HANDLED 27 900 CERTIFICATES OF RENT INCREASE, 13 600 NOTICES OF NEW LETTING OR RENEWAL AGREEMENT. 5 400 NOTICE OF ALTERATION IN RENT BY AGREEMENT, 1 100 REVIEW OF CERTIFICATES OF RENT INCREASE AND 200 CERTIFICATES OF PRIMARY USERS.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE RENT OFFICER SCHEME, WHICH STARTED IN APRIL 1978 AT FOUR CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS, HAD EXPANDED TO COVER 12 DISTRICT OFFICES AT PRESENT.

RENT OFFICERS ATTENDED THE FOLLOWING DISTRICT OFFICES AT SET TIMES EACH WEEK TO HANDLE PUBLIC ENQUIRIES ON LANDLORD AND TENANT MATTERS:-

HONG KONG: CENTRAL AND WESTERN (TUESDAY AFTERNOON);

KOWLOON:

WAN CHAI (THURSDAY MORNING);

EASTERN (THURSDAY AFTERNOON);

SOUTHERN (TUESDAY MORNING);

YAU MA TEI (TUESDAY AFTERNOON);

MONG KOK (TUESDAY MORNING);

SHAM SHUI PO (WEDNESDAY WHOLE DAY);

HUNG HOM (THURSDAY MORNING);

WONG TAI SIN (FRIDAY MORNING);

KWUN TONG (FRIDAY AFTERNOON);

NEW TERRITORIES: KWAI CHUNG (THIRD THURSDAY OF THE MONTH);

TSUEN WAN (FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH).

*MEMBERS OF