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The newly declared 2006-07 Valuation List and Government Rent Roll will be available for inspection during office hours from tomorrow (March 18) to May 31 at the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) in Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 15/F, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon.
People may also search for entries on the List and the Rent Roll by visiting the department's website (http://www.rvd.gov.hk) during this period.
Notices regarding the display of the List and the Rent Roll were gazetted and advertised in newspapers today (March 17) as required by law.
Proposals objecting to the new rateable values should be made on the specified form (R20A) obtainable from the RVD and District Offices. Completed forms should reach the RVD by hand or by post from March 18 to May 31. People may also lodge a proposal by submitting an electronic form (e-R20A) using the "Electronic Submission of Forms" service provided on the department's website. Proposals served by other modes including facsimile transmission will not be accepted.
"Proposals received after May 31, 2006, will not be accepted. The office of the RVD will be closed on May 31, the public holiday for the Tuen Ng Festival. To help people in lodging proposals, a drop-in box will be placed at the ground floor lobby of the Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices from 9am to 7pm on May 31," a spokesman for the RVD said.
All rateable values are reviewed by reference to rental values in the open market at the designated valuation reference date of October 1, 2005, to ensure that the rates and Government rent liability are distributed fairly among rate and rent payers in accordance with up-to-date rental values.
Rates are charged at a percentage of the rateable value of the property. For the financial year 2006-07 the rates percentage charge will remain at the present level of 5%. If payable, Government rent is charged at 3% of the rateable value of the property.
Rates and government rent demands to be issued in late March or early April, 2006, will show the revised rateable values for 2006-07 and the amount payable. A leaflet explaining the general revaluation will accompany these demands. Enquiries can be made on the RVD's 24-hour hotline 2152 0111.
"The demands must be paid by the last day for payment shown on the demand whether or not an objection is made to the new rateable value," the spokesman said. "If there is any change to the rateable value as a result of any objection, this will date back to April 1, 2006, and any necessary adjustment to the amount payable will be made in subsequent demands."
Ends/Friday, March 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:01
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