ON THIS day 25 years ago: UNSCRUPULOUS landlords exploited their tenants' investment on interior decorations of premises as a lever to raise rent.
There were reports on surges in rent in Tsim Sha Tsui, Causeway Bay and Kowloon Tong areas, with the rate of increase ranging from 20 to 30 per cent upon expiration of the lease.
Interior decorators said many tenants had decorated their homes lavishly but often neglected to check the terms of their leases before committing themselves to costly furnishings.
However, property developers denied the allegation and said isolated cases were not a true indication of the trend of rising rents. Li Shiu-chung, a real estate developer, said some of his properties in Wan Chai built in 1965 remained vacant and rents in tenement flats had dropped from $500 to $350 per month.
Chairman of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Real Estate Association, Ronald Li, also denied the reports on drastic rent increases but confirmed there were definite rent increases in industrial premises, especially in the San Po Kong area. AN eight-year-old boy, Lo Chi-hung, underwent open-heart surgery at the Grantham Hospital in Aberdeen and two defects were corrected during the six-hour operation.
A hospital spokesman said that in the first 48 hours after such an operation, complications could set in and patients must be regarded as being in a serious condition. The spokesman also denied a report that the boy's parents were not informed about the operation. Instead, the boy's father was invited to be present during the operation in case fresh blood was needed.
