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Brief notes on the compilation
of accompanying tables
Annexe
Termed 'Mini' Rental Indices to distinguish them from the main departmental indices now being compiled. Premises included are those which were let in 1964 where a new rent has been notified or noted from enquiry during the period 1st April - 30th November, 1969. Such rental information is obtained from many sources; but there is no statutory requirement for ratepayers to report such rental changes unless requisitioned so to do. It is also true that there is a tendency for more decreases to be reported voluntarily than increases, in the hope thereby of obtaining a reduction in the rating assessment. Nevertheless, this information is fairly representative of what has been happening, as a considerable amount is obtained from inspections in connexion with vacant tenements which on re-letting might be expected to show increases; also many of the bigger landlords and agents report all new lettings as a matter of course. Although no attempt has been made to adjust rents to common factors; e.g. converting inclusive rents to exclusive or vice-versa, like has been compared with like. Information for 1964, 1966 and 1968 is derived from returns made in connexion with valuations for rating. Where no rent was recorded for 1966 or 1968 a figure has been interpolated by a professional officer: the number of such cases is, however, very small. 1964 has been taken as the 'base' year as, for most categories, this provided the last rental peak, though rental increases went on into 1965 and 1966. Indices have been provided in the various domestic categories listed in Annexe 'E' apart from 'Houses', in which category there are too few cases to provide any basis for an Index. Four indices are provided in each category representing rental levels for each of the years 1964, 1966, 1968 and 1969 to illustrate the trend of rental movements over the period.
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Annexe 'B'
Twenty of the most striking rental increases have been selected in each category from the group of premises where changed rents have been notified during 1969, to illustrate more clearly the extent of recent increases. The percentage increase between the last rent and the 1969 rent is given, and 1964 and 1966 rents are recorded where the figures are known. In the case of flatted factories only thirteen cases were recorded, and none of these are shown in Annexe 'A' as none were let in 1964.
Annexe 'C' The figures are compiled for calendar years. Earlier figures for the 'Private' sector were compiled for financial years and the adjust- ments made for the years 1959-1963 are on an empirical basis. The 1969 figure is a reasonably accurate estimate of the number of units to be completed, and the estimate for 1970 is derived from site inspections. Figures in the private sector beyond 1970 are 'guesstimates', as the department has not the information upon which to base any accurate fore- casts. It is hoped that, following discussions with the Building Authority, better estimates may be available next month. The population for the private sector has been taken at the fairly low figure of 5 per unit which corresponds roughly to Housing Board figures. Private sector figures relate only to Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon, whereas other figures relate to the whole Colony, though for the Government and Government-aided sector what has been built in the New Territories is at Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung which is really an extension of the urban area. Only in the case of Resettlement is accommodation provided elsewhere, with one large block at Yuen Long. Private sector figures allow for demolitions which, for 1970 onwards, also are 'guesstimates'. Population figures, apart from the private sector, are based on planned space provided, not on actual population figures or estimates. Figures generally are derived from the published programmes under the various heads. In the case of Resettlement the count for each year is taken at the P.W.D. published completion date: for Low-cost Housing it is at take-over date and in all other cases at the date of the issue of the occupation certificate. For any single year the figures may, therefore, vary from other published figures, depending on how such figures were compiled.
Annexe 'D' - A description of the domestic categories used in the report
and tables.
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