The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) today (September 4) released the statistics on vessels, port cargo and containers for the second quarter of 2023. In the second quarter of 2023, total port cargo… read more
August 2023 was much hotter than usual in Hong Kong, mainly attributable to the warmer than normal sea surface temperature over the northern part of the South China Sea and a stronger than usual southwesterly flow in the l… read more
A landlord of subdivided units (SDUs) contravening Part IVA of the Landlord and Tenant (Consolidation) Ordinance (Cap. 7) (the Ordinance) pleaded guilty today (September 4) at the Eastern Magistrates’ Courts for seven offences of failing to submit a Notice of Tenancy (Form AR2) to the Commissioner of Rating and Valuation (the Commissioner) within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced. The landlord was fined a total of $5,600 for the offences. Since the Ordinance has come into force, seven SDU landlords have been convicted of contravening the Ordinance.
In mid-April 2023, the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) discovered that the landlord was suspected of failing to submit a Form AR2 within the prescribed period for seven regulated tenancies of SDUs when performing its duties. Upon in-depth investigation and evidence collection, the RVD prosecuted against the landlord.
Pursuant to Section 120AAZT of the Ordinance, the landlord of a regulated tenancy must submit a completed Form AR2 to the Commissioner to notify the particulars of the tenancy within 60 days after the term of the regulated tenancy commenced. A landlord who refuses or neglects to comply with the above requirements without reasonable excuse commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000), and in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine of $200 for each day during which the offence continues.
A spokesman for the RVD hopes this conviction will send a strong message to SDU landlords that they must comply with the relevant requirements under the Ordinance, and also remind SDU tenants of their rights under the Ordinance. Apart from following up on reported cases, the RVD has been adopting a multipronged approach using close liaisons with other departments to proactively identify, investigate and follow up on cases concerning landlords who are suspected of contravening the Ordinance. To this end, the RVD has started to proactively require landlords of regulated tenancies to provide information and reference documents of their tenancies for checking whether the landlords concerned have complied with the requirements of the Ordinance. If a landlord, without reasonable excuse, refuses to provide the relevant information or neglects the RVD’s request, the landlord commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3 ($10,000) and to imprisonment for three months. Moreover, the RVD also provides a form (Form AR3) to enable tenants of regulated tenancies who have not yet received a copy of endorsed Form AR2 to provide the basic tenancy particulars to the RVD by electronic means or in paper form, so as to enquire whether the RVD has received the relevant Form AR2 for the department’s follow-up as appropriate. If any contraventions are found, the RVD will seriously look into the cases.
The RVD spokesman also appealed to members of the public to come forward and report to the RVD promptly any suspected cases of contravening the relevant requirements. This would help curb illegal acts as soon as possible. Reporting can be made through the telephone hotline (2150 8303), by email (enquiries@rvd.gov.hk), by fax (2116 4920), by post (15/F, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon), or in person (please call 2150 8303 to make an appointment with the Tenancy Services Section of the RVD before visiting its office at Room 3816-22, 38/F, Immigration Tower, 7 Gloucester Road, Wan Chai).
For enquiries related to regulated tenancies, please call the above telephone hotline or visit the RVD’s webpage (www.rvd.gov.hk/en/our_services/part_iva.html) for the relevant information. read more
The effective exchange rate index for the Hong Kong dollar on Monday, September 4, 2023 is 105.2 (same as last Thursday’s index). read more
​Launched by the Hong Kong Film Archive of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the “Movies to GO” series will collaborate with Tai Kwun to present “Tai Kwun Movie Steps X Hong Kong Film Archive – A Touch of Youth”. Five teen films from the 1950s to 1980s will be screened free of charge on eight consecutive Sundays between September 10 and October 29 at the Tai Kwun Laundry Steps to allow audiences to revisit the charisma of the teen idols of the time.
Starring the charming “Jewel of Shaws” Patricia Lam Fung and the handsome Cheung Ying-choi, “Sweet Girl in Terror” (1958) is filled with youthfulness at first but then takes a turn to become a mystery thriller. The film, shot in Eastmancolor, not only captures the gorgeousness of the young Lam and Cheung, but also records the valuable images of Kai Tak Airport and the old Tai Po Market Railway Station.
A teen film set on a university campus, “Spring Song” (1959) features the “Mambo Girl” Grace Chang and the “Students’ Sweetheart” Jeanette Lin Tsui. In the film, Chang showcased her talent in singing and dancing and performed an excerpt from a famous Kunqu piece “The Peony Pavilion”, while Lin demonstrated the vitality of a teenage girl who excels in sports.
“You Are My Love” (1967) centres on the romantic entanglements between three sisters of the Lau family and three brothers of the Ling family. The energetic youngest Lau sister, played by Josephine Siao Fong-fong, let havoc befall their lives in a moment of impulsivity. Best known for his period dramas, director Chu Kea was equally brilliant in directing this contemporary-set film, mixing scenes of singing and dancing with the theme of sisterly love in a way that is both dazzling and moving.
Played by the timeless onscreen couple Lui Kay and Connie Chan Po-chu, “Mary, I Love You” (1969) not only tells a profound and moving love story, but also depicts the unfailing friendship between the characters. The film features a series of song and dance scenes, with its theme song meticulously arranged into two echoing versions performed by Chan and Lui.
“Once Upon A Rainbow” (1982) revolves around the ups and downs in the pursuit of dreams, and the difficult choice between love and friendship faced by three youngsters. Several famous film personalities made their debut in this film, including Andy Lau as a film actor, and Wong Kar-wai and Yee Chung-man as screenwriters.
Some screenings will be accompanied by post-screening talks hosted by film researchers Eric Tsang and Sam Ho, and film score scholar Dr Angela Law.
“Spring Song” is in Mandarin and other films are in Cantonese. All films are with Chinese and English subtitles.
Admission is free and audience members should arrive at the venue at the respective screening time. Limited space will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. For programme enquiries, please call 2739 2139 or visit link www.filmarchive.gov.hk/en/web/hkfa/pe-event-2023-mtg.html.
