Letters | As coronavirus and protests hit Hong Kong property value, Lands Department should halt rent rises

Hong Kong economy

Letters

Published: 1:05pm, 23 Jun 2020

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The protests since June last year and the Covid-19 pandemic have hurt many Hong Kong businesses and residents. As a result, the government introduced a budget that provides some financial aid to various sections of society. Other organisations within Hong Kong have also contributed to the greater good of the constituents in these difficult times.

As a result, cash is being handed out, tax payments have been deferred, school fees have been partially refunded, annual membership fees have been refunded, and so on. These measures are appreciated by the beneficiaries.

However, one branch of the Hong Kong government does not seem to have received the memo, namely the Lands Department. Despite the obvious significant fall in the market value of all properties in Hong Kong and the significant reduction in lease rates in the city, the department is continuing with its increase – 21 per cent in my case – in Short Term Tenancy (STT) rates with effect from July.

The department has stated that continuance of the STT is conditional upon acceptance of the increase. They provide no basis for the increase other than the passage of time since the last increase, and offer no opportunity to negotiate the quantum or timing of the increase. Instead, they threaten to terminate any STT if the tenant fails to agree to this increase.

I request that the Lands Department get with the programme and immediately eliminate or indefinitely defer the increases.

J. Herbert, Sai Kung

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