*********************************************************
The Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) today (May 17) reminded people that proposals to alter the rateable values of their properties from April 1 must be served on the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation by May 31.
Proposals should be made on the specified form (R20A) and be served by post or in person. Copies of the form can be obtained from the department at Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 15th floor, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon, and Public Enquiry Service Centres in various District Offices of the Home Affairs Department.
The form can also be downloaded from the Rating and Valuation Department's website at (www.rvd.gov.hk). People can also lodge proposals on electronic forms (e-R20A) using the "Electronic Submission of Forms" service provided on the department's website. Proposals sent by fax are not acceptable.
A department spokesman emphasised that under the Rating Ordinance and the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance, proposals served after May 31 would not be accepted.
As May 30 and May 31 are Saturday and Sunday respectively and the department office will be closed, a drop-in box for collecting proposals will be placed at the ground floor lobby of the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices from 9am to 7pm on these two days.
"Notwithstanding the lodging of a proposal, rates and rent payers must pay rates and government rent by the last day for payment shown on the demand notes. We will carefully consider all proposals and inform the proposers of our decisions before December 1. Any changes in rates and government rent payable resulting from such decisions will date back to April 1 this year and any overpayment will be adjusted in subsequent demands," he said.
Enquiries can be made on 2152 0111.
Ends/Sunday, May 17, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:01
NNNN
