The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (April 18) reminded registered rates and/or Government rent payers and their authorised agents to serve applications on the RVD on or before April 20 for accounts with autopay instruction if they wish to apply for deferring the payment due date to August 12 for the April to June 2022 quarterly rates and/or Government rent (and that for January to March 2022 if still outstanding) in respect of Specified Commercial Premises (see Annex) subject to an existing tenancy. For rates and/or Government rent accounts without autopay instruction, the application deadline is May 6. Any application received by the RVD after the respective deadlines will not be processed.
To enable expeditious processing of applications, eligible registered payers are strongly advised to apply online by submitting an electronic form (e-RVD 1070) using the Electronic Submission of Forms service on the RVD's website www.rvd.gov.hk. Alternatively, they may submit a completed form (RVD 1070) in person or by post to the RVD at 15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. In this connection, the form RVD 1070 is available round the clock by downloading from the RVD's website, by calling its hotline 2152 0111 (handled by "1823") or its automated telephone enquiry service on 2152 2152.
This administrative measure to defer payment of rates and Government rent for Specified Commercial Premises forms part of the enhancements to the Rental Enforcement Moratorium measure proposed in the 2022-23 Budget to enhance liquidity support of business tenants of specified sectors affected by the fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. The Bill for introducing the statutory measure, i.e. the Temporary Protection Measures for Business Tenants (COVID-19 Pandemic) Bill, which was gazetted on March 18, is subject to the scrutiny and approval of the Legislative Council.
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