Attempts to soften eviction law could see bill kicked out of Legco
A last-minute amendment to legislation originally designed to give landlords the right to evict tenants after their lease expires may cause the government to withdraw the bill.
The amendment, presented by Liberal Party chairman James TienPei-chun, would give tenants paying less than $3,000 a month a further three years' protection under the present arrangements.
Currently, tenants can not be forced out of a flat after the expiry of their lease so long as they continue to pay market-rate rent. The only exceptions are if landlords wish to occupy the flat themselves, or if it is to be redeveloped.
Democrats vowed to support the Liberals' measure if their own amendment, which extended protection indefinitely for tenants paying less than $5,000 a month, was defeated.
The government has argued landlords needed more rights to deal with tenants who cause damage to properties.
The Liberal Party amendment would exempt about 35,000 tenants from the government's proposed measure, which would see security of tenure on all residential tenancies revoked.
