XN000022-1986-08-28 — Page 8

THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 1986

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VILLAGERS MAY APPLY FOR RATES EXEMPTION

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INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS IN TUEN MUN LIVING IN THEIR OWN VILLAGE-TYPE HOUSES OUTSIDE DESIGNATED VILLAGE AREAS IN THE DISTRICT, CAN APPLY FOR EXEMPTION FROM RATES THROUGH THE DISTRICT OFFICE.

A TUEN MUN DISTRICT OFFICE SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT UNDER THE PRESENT POLICY EXEMPTION COULD BE GRANTED IF THE HOUSE OWNER COULD PROVE THAT THE PREMISES WAS A GENUINE VILLAGE HOUSE FOR SELF-RESIDENCE, AND HE ALSO MET CERTAIN CRITERIA.

THE EXEMPTION ALSO APPLIES TO INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS IN A SIMILAR SITUATION ELSEWHERE IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT FOR PORTIONS OR THE WHOLE HOUSE OCCUPIED BY THE INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS THEMSELVES AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILIES, CONSIDERATION MIGHT BE GIVEN FOR RATES TO BE EXEMPTED. SUCH CONSIDERATION COULD ALSO BE GIVEN IF THE HOUSE BECAME VACANT.

-HOWEVER, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT ONCE THE PREMISES WERE RENTED OUT, OR WHERE THE OCCUPANTS WERE NEITHER THE HOUSE OWNER NOR FAILY MEMBERS, THE HOUSE OWNER NO LONGER ENJOYS THE BENEFITS OF EXEMPTION,+ HE SAID.

WHERE AN INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS OWNED SEVERAL VILLAGE HOUSES, ONLY ONE OF THEM WOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR EXEMPTION.

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IN GENERAL TERMS, A GENUINE VILLAGE HOUSE CAN BE DEFINED AS A STRUCTURE WITH NOT MORE THAN 64.8 SQUARE METRES OF ROOFED- OVER AREA AND NOT EXCEEDING 25 FEET IN HEIGHT, OR ONE BUILT BEFORE AUGUST 1945 FOR NEW TERRITORIES DWELLERS.

INDIGENOUS VILLAGERS SATISFYING THE CONDITIONS CAN SEND APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION TO THE DISTRICT OFFICE FOR PROCESSING AND THEY WILL THEN BE FORWARDED TO THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION HEADQUARTERS FOR APPROVAL.

+ IT TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS FOR AN APPLICATION TO BE PROCESSED, AND RATEPAYERS ARE REMINDED THAT THEY SHOULD FIRST SETTLE THE RATE DEMAND NOTE ISSUED BY THE RATING AND VALUATION DEPARTMENT. ONCE AN EXEMPTION IS GRANTED, THE AMOUNT OF RATES EXEMPTED WILL BE PAID BACK IN A REBATE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

MORE PHYSICAL INVOLVEMENT BY STUDENTS URGED

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AN ALTERNATE PROPOSAL FOR THE FIRST CLEAN SCHOOL COMPETITION EVER HELD IN THE TERRITORY WAS APPROVED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL KEEP HONG KONG CLEAN COMMITTEE TODAY (THURSDAY).

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE, MR WALTER M. SULKE, HOWEVER SUGGESTED THAT THE COMPETITION SHOULD INCLUDE ACTUAL PHYSICAL INVOLVEMENT OF STUDENTS IN THE CLEANING UP OF SCHOOLS RATHER THAN PURELY INVOLVING THEM IN ACADEMICAL WORK.

+PHYLICAL INVOLVEMENT