ENG-1957 — Page 21

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

Existing legislation was inadequate. A form of rent control had, in fact, been first introduced in Hong Kong as early as July 1921 because of the shortage of housing and the presence of refugees. The legislation was intended merely as a tem- porary measure to continue in force for one year only, with provision for renewal for periods of not more than one year at a time. In the event the Ordinance was extended annually with various amendments until 30th June, 1926, when there were so many vacant floors throughout the Colony that further renewal of rent control was no longer necessary.

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The great influx of people during the Sino-Japanese War led to the passing in 1938 of a Prevention of Eviction Ordinance; this conferred on tenants a certain measure of protection against excessive rents and eviction. As before the Ordinance was intended as a temporary measure, but it was extended by annual legislation and was still in force in December 1941 when the Colony was invaded.

Tenancy matters generally were in a confused state at the end of the war. Normal tenancy agreements had frequently gone by the board during the occupation years, and rent was often an indefinite sum because of the uncertain value of the occupation currency. Although the Japanese had established civil courts in 1943, there had been little resort to them for the adjudication of disputes.

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The commonest form of tenancy in Hong Kong was, and still is, a monthly tenancy. Thus, with the resumption of the British administration, landlords were frequently in a position to give their tenants a month's notice to quit and, if this was not accepted, thereafter to seek an eviction order. It was also apparent that with the return of former residents there would be great demand for the very reduced accom- modation available. One of the first acts of the British Military Administration was therefore to issue a Landlord and Tenant Proclamation. This Proclamation (amended in some details by a subsequent Proclamation of March 1946) restricted rents to the levels obtaining before December 1941