The Housing Authority has rejected calls for an independent appeals channel for shop tenants angry over the amount their rent has been cut.
It said a third party to adjudicate disputes between tenants and the authority would violate the principle of commercial operations. The authority also rejected demands for a 30 per cent across-the-board cut during yesterday's City Forum.
'Are consumers paying 30 per cent less following the reduction? If everyone is guaranteed that percentage, it is unfair and breaches our principle,' said Deryk Yim Ka-yan, chief estate surveyor for commercial property.
Angry tenants attacked what they called 'unfair and clandestine' assessments.
The first batch of applicants has been granted 10 to 64 per cent reductions.
Tenants also complained that shops which made money because of their sound business practices might be given a smaller reduction while those which were less competitive would be granted a larger decrease.
About 1,500 applications have been received so far from 9,300 eligible tenants.