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The Rating and Valuation Department will revise attendance arrangements for their Rent Officers to deal with public enquiries on tenancy matters at the Home Affairs Department's (HAD) Public Enquiry Service Centres (PESC) in Wan Chai, Yau Tsim Mong, Tai Po, Sham Shui Po and Southern Districts with effect from tomorrow (December 1).

The Rent Officer Scheme, which was first introduced in April 1978, is run by the Rating and Valuation Department to provide free advice on tenancy matters.

From August 1999 to July 2000, more than 54,000 cases were handled by either Rent Officers or HAD staff at various PESC. The most common problems were arrears of rent, recovery of possessions or eviction, tenancy agreements, and renewal of tenancy.

Additional Tuesday afternoon sessions will be held in Wan Chai District Office, while additional Wednesday afternoon sessions will be held in Yau Tsim Mong District Office.

A Thursday afternoon session is firstly introduced in Tai Po District Office to deal with the increasing public enquiries on rental matters.

The current services provided in Sham Shui Po and Southern Districts will be cancelled for better utilization of resources.

These bring to a total of 13 District Offices providing such service including Central & Western, Wan Chai and Eastern on Hong Kong Island; Yau Tsim Mong, Kowloon City, Wong Tai Sin and Kwun Tong in Kowloon; as well as Tuen Mun, Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing, Sha Tin, Tai Po and Yuen Long in the New Territories.

Members of the public wishing to seek advice or obtain information about the service may call the Rating and Valuation Department at 2150 8228 or the Home Affairs Department's Central Telephone Enquiry Centre at 2835 0500.

End/Thursday, November 30, 2000

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