XN000022-1987-01-16 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1987

THE PROPOSED ABOLITION WILL SLIGHTLY AFFECT THE RATES PAYABLE BY A NUMBER OF PUBLIC HOUSING DOMESTIC TENANTS WHOSE MONTHLY RATES IN 1987-88 WILL ON AVERAGE INCREASE BY $1.97 MORE THAN IF ' THE SCHEME HAD CONTINUED UNCHANGED.

HOWEVER, IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING POLICY, PUBLIC HOUSING TENANTS WILL NOT BE AFFECTED BY THESE INCREASES UNTIL THEIR RENTS ARE NEXT REVIEWED.

ONLY ABOUT SIX PER CENT OF PRIVATE DOMESTIC PREMISES WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE CHANGE AND THE AVERAGE EXTRA RATES PAYABLE FOR THESE PREMISES WILL BE ONLY $22.64 PER MONTH.

THE OTHER CHANGES PROPOSED ARE MAINLY DESIGNED TO CLARIFY CERTAIN TECHNICAL POINTS AND TO IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE ORDINANCE.

THE MORE IMPORTANT CHANGES ARE FIRSTLY TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER OF RATING AND VALUATION TO AGREE TO MAKE ALTERNATIONS TO RATE ABLE VALUES WHEN OBJECTIONS TO THE PROPOSED ASSESSMENTS ARE RECEIVED FROM RATEPAYERS, AND SECONDLY TO SIMPLIFY THE CALCULATION OF REFUND OF RATES ON ACCOUNT OF VACANCY.

THE ABOLITION OF THE RATES RELIEF SCHEME WILL RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF $76 MILLION IN ESTIMATED RATES REVENUE IN 1987-88.

IT IS EXPECTED THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JANUARY 21.

SIR DAVID OPENS SHA TIN TOWN HALL *****

THE OPENING OF SHA TIN TOWN HALL MARKS ANOTHER IMPORTANT STEP IN THE FULFILMENT OF GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ENSURE THAT CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES SHOUD BE IN EASY REACH OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT HONG KONG AND PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TOWNS, THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DAVID AKERS-JONES, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING.

OFFICIATING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE TOWN HALL, SIR DAVID SAID, THE FIRST, TSUEN WAN TOWN HALL, WAS BUILT IN 1980, AND ALREADY MAKES A MAJOR CONTRIBUTION TO OUR CULTURAL LIFE.

+LATER THIS YEAR, TUEN MUN TOWN HALL - A REPLICA OF THIS FINE FACILITY - WILL BE OPENED. THERE WILL THEN BE A RING OF FACILITIES BOTH LARGE AND SMALL AROUND THE NEW TERRITORIES.+

/SIR DAVID