The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority: The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) issued today (November 15) a tentative issuance schedule for Exchange Fund Bills and Notes (EFBNs) for… read more
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) published today (November 15) the November 2024 issue of the "Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics" (HKMDS). Apart from providing up-to-date st… read more
​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (November 15) expressed his gratitude to the Legislative Council (LegCo) for passing the Motion of Thanks in respect of “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”.
Mr Lee said, “This Policy Address, entitled ‘Reform for Enhancing Development and Building Our Future Together’, proposes over 600 policy measures in various areas, deepening the reforms that I have introduced since I became Chief Executive. It consolidates and enhances the factors for Hong Kong’s success while keeping our principles and being innovative in advancing reforms. In this Policy Address, I propose to consolidate the existing advantages of Hong Kong, present enhanced measures and explore new growth areas to address the needs of our people while mapping our vision and long-term goals. This Policy Address combines the wisdom of the community and the Government’s planning, showing our hope to jointly build Hong Kong’s future.
“I express my gratitude to LegCo Members for offering their views on various measures in the Policy Address during the debate on the Motion of Thanks for three consecutive days, especially for their suggestions on various policy areas related to reform and embracing changes, harnessing the strengths of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, strengthening governance systems, consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, developing new quality productive forces, fostering economic diversification, taking forward the Northern Metropolis as the growth engine and deepening collaboration within the Greater Bay Area, and building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent. The Government will analyse and study these views so that the implementation of relevant measures can meet the needs and expectations of the public.
“My team and I will continue to exchange and communicate with the LegCo through various means. I believe that under the principles of an executive-led structure and ‘patriots administering Hong Kong’, we can build a better Hong Kong through our united efforts to reform and innovate.” read more
Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced toda… read more
Nine landlords of subdivided units (SDUs), who contravened Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance), pleaded guilty and were fined a total of $39,200 today (November 15) at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts. Since the Ordinance came into force, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) has successfully prosecuted 450 cases involving a total of 389 SDU landlords, with fines ranging from $400 to $34,800, amounting to a total of $970,610.
The offences of these landlords include (1) failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced; and (2) requesting the tenant to pay money other than the types permitted under the Ordinance (i.e. requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance). One of the landlords committed 10 offences under (1) and (2) and was fined $11,200.
The RVD earlier discovered that the landlords failed to comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance. Upon an in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlords.
A spokesman for the RVD reiterated that SDU landlords must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, including prohibiting landlords from doing any act calculated to interfere with the peace or comfort of members of the tenant’s household, with the intention of causing the tenant to give up occupation of the SDU; or requiring the tenant to pay an amount of rent for the second-term tenancy exceeding the maximum amount of rent permitted under the Ordinance, and also reminded SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance, including a four-year (i.e. two years plus two years) security of tenure. He also stressed that the RVD will continue to take resolute enforcement action against any contraventions of the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. In particular, the RVD has been requiring landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a maximum fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Depending on the actual circumstances, and having regard to the information and evidence collected, the RVD will take appropriate actions on individual cases, including instigating prosecution against suspected contraventions of the Ordinance.
To help curb illegal acts as soon as possible, members of the public should report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (visiting the Tenancy Services Section office of the RVD at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong, and please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment). Furthermore, the RVD has provided a form (Form AR4) (www.rvd.gov.hk/doc/en/forms/ar4.pdf) on its website to facilitate SDU tenants’ reporting to the RVD.
The RVD reminds that pursuant to the Ordinance, a regulated cycle of regulated tenancies is to comprise two consecutive regulated tenancies (i.e. the first-term tenancy and second-term tenancy) for an SDU, and the term of each regulated tenancy is two years. A tenant of a first-term tenancy for an SDU is entitled to be granted a second-term tenancy of the regulated cycle, thus enjoying a total of four years of security of tenure. Since the first batch of regulated tenancies has already approached their second-term tenancies, the RVD has started a new round of publicity and education work in order to assist SDU landlords and tenants to understand the important matters pertaining to the second-term tenancy, and procedures that need to be followed about two months prior to the commencement of the purported second-term tenancy. In addition, the RVD has started issuing letters enclosing relevant information to the landlords and tenants concerned of regulated tenancies in batches, according to the expiry time of their first-term tenancies, to remind them about their respective obligations and rights under the Ordinance. These landlords and tenants may also visit the dedicated page for the second-term tenancy on the RVD’s website (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/tenancy_matters/second_term_tenancy.html) for the relevant information, including a concise guide, brochures, tutorial videos and frequently asked questions. SDU landlords and tenants are also advised to familiarise themselves with the relevant statutory requirements and maintain close communication regarding the second-term tenancy for handling the matters properly and in a timely manner according to the Ordinance.
For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the telephone hotline (2150 8303) or visit the RVD’s webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information. read more