XN000022-1986-06-29 — Page 8

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SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 1986

+THIS, HOWEVER, DOES NOT APPLY TO THOSE WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL OR EMERGENCY DUTIES DURING A TYPHOON.+

EMPLOYERS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY IN DRAFTING OR PREPARING AGREEMENTS CONCERNING TYPHOON ARRANGEMENTS MAY APPROACH THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR ADVICE.

LANDLORDS WARNED AGAINST HARASSMENT

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A RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN HAS REMINDED LANDLORDS AND PRINCIPAL TENANTS THAT THEY SHOULD STRICTLY OBSERVE THE PROVISIONS AGAINST HARASSMENT IN THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) ORDINANCE OR ELSE THEY WOULD BE LIABLE TO FACE PROSECUTION.

HE CITED A RECENT CASE IN WHICH THE WIFE OF A PRINCIPAL TENANT WAS SENTENCED TO A FINE OF $5 000, OR THREE MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT IN DEFAULT OF PAYMENT, IN KOWLOON DISTRICT COURT. THE WOMAN WAS ACCUSED OF PERSISTENTLY WITHHOLDING ELECTRICITY SUPPLY REASONABLY REQUIRED FOR THE OCCUPATION OF A CUBICLE AS A DWELLING WITH INTENT TO EVICT THE SUB-TENANT, CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE COURT WAS TOLD THE WOMAN HIRED AN ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN TO DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO THE CUBICLE, WHICH WAS IN A POST-WAR BUILDING IN SHAM SHUI PO.

DESPITE REPEATED REQUESTS BY THE SUB-TENANT AND CONCILIATION AND ADVISORY SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S RENT OFFICERS, THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY WAS NOT RECONNECTED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT IT WAS A SERIOUS OFFENCE TO HARASS TENANTS.

+ANY PERSON WHO UNLAWFULLY DEPRIVES TENANTS OF THE IR OCCUPATION OF PREMISES OR WITHDRAWS OR WITHHOLDS SERVICES REASONABLY REQUIRED FOR OCCUPATION OF THE PREMISES AS A DWELLING IS LIABLE ON CONVICTION TO A FINE OF $500 000 AND, IN ADDITION, ON A SECOND OR SUBSEQUENT CONVICTION, TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 12 MONTHS, + HE SAID.

+ ANY ILLEGAL GAIN AS A RESULT OF EVICTING THE TENANT WILL BE FORFEITED AND THE COURT MAY ORDER THE CONVICTED PERSON TO COMPENSATE THE TENANT'S LOSSES, HE ADDED.

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