Government welcomes passage of Rating (Amendment) Bill 2024
The Government welcomed the passage of the Rating (Amendment) Bill 2024 by the Legislative Council today (October 23). The Bill gives effect to the progressive rating system for domestic tenements, which will take effect from the fourth quarter of this financial year (i.e. January to March 2025), to uphold the principle of "affordable users pay".
Starting from the fourth quarter of this financial year, for domestic tenements with a rateable value (RV) of $550,000 or below, rates will continue to be charged at 5 per cent of the RV. For domestic tenements with an RV exceeding $550,000, rates will be charged at the same rate of 5 per cent for the first $550,000, 8 per cent for the next $250,000, and 12 per cent for the remaining RV.
Non-domestic tenements, including tenements used for business activities or social services, e.g. commercial building, industrial building, shop, hotel, nursery, home for the elderly, youth hostel, holiday camp, etc, will not be subject to the progressive rating system.
The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, said, "The progressive rating system endeavours to strike a balance between upholding the 'affordable users pay' principle and minimising the number of ratepayers affected. In formulating the progressive rating system, the Government has taken into account a basket of factors, including the affordability of ratepayers of domestic tenements, the market rentals as reflected in the RV, the number of affected ratepayers and the amount of additional rates to be paid, the estimated increase in revenue from rates, as well as the fundamental principle of maintaining a simple rating system. The progressive rating system is part of the Government's comprehensive fiscal consolidation programme. It is expected that government revenue will increase by about $820 million each year. The affected domestic tenements account for about 1.9 per cent of the total number of private domestic tenements in Hong Kong."
The Bill will be gazetted on November 1. The Rating and Valuation Department will inform the affected ratepayers. The quarterly demands to be issued in the fourth quarter of this financial year will reflect the progressive rates for applicable cases.
Vietnamese Lune Production's contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" to showcase millennia-old highland culture
Presented by the fourth Asia+ Festival, the contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will make its Hong Kong debut on November 14 and 15, following a successful European tour. Blending aerial acrobatics with traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, the programme vividly brings Vietnam’s highland culture to the stage. It will be performed by Lune Production, widely hailed as the Vietnamese Cirque du Soleil, marking the troupe's return to Hong Kong after previous critically acclaimed performances.
In the language of the K'Ho region in Vietnam's Central Highlands, "Teh Dar" means "going in circles", evoking the eternal cycle of life. The production's red stage recalls the region's distinctive red soil landscape, as acrobatic performers execute aerial feats. A live ensemble will play traditional instruments including gongs, buffalo horns, T'rung bamboo xylophones and long drums, bringing to life the millennia-old Gong Culture of the Central Highlands, recognised by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
The New York Times has acclaimed "Teh Dar" as "a hypnotic, daring spectacle that fuses Central Highlands lore with world-class circus and contemporary dance".
"Teh Dar" is also one of the programmes of the sixth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival. It will be held at 7.30pm on November 14 and 3pm on November 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium. Tickets priced at $200, $260, $320 and $400 are available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). Please call 3166 1288 for telephone bookings or use the mobile ticketing app URBTIX.
An acrobatic workshop will be held on November 15. Please refer to www.asiaplus.gov.hk/2026/en/teh-dar.
Presented by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Asia+ Festival is held annually from September to November. Themed "Traditions Recast", this year's festival brings together over 30 countries and regions, and presents more than 100 performances and related activities, showcasing the artistic essence of Asia and countries and regions along the Belt and Road. For programme enquiries and ticketing concessions, please call 2370 1044 or visit www.asiaplus.gov.hk.
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will be held on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall. Acrobatic performers will execute aerial feats and a live ensemble will play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, bringing to life the millennia-old Gong Culture of the Central Highlands. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will be held on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall. Acrobatic performers will execute aerial feats and a live ensemble will play traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, bringing to life the millennia-old Gong Culture of the Central Highlands. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will be held on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall. The production’s red stage recalls the region’s distinctive red soil landscape as acrobatic performers execute aerial feats. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will be held on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall. The production’s red stage recalls the region’s distinctive red soil landscape as acrobatic performers execute aerial feats. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will make its Hong Kong debut on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall, following a successful European tour. Blending aerial acrobatics with traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, the programme vividly brings Vietnam's highland culture to the stage. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will make its Hong Kong debut on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall, following a successful European tour. Blending aerial acrobatics with traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, the programme vividly brings Vietnam's highland culture to the stage. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will make its Hong Kong debut on November 14 and 15 at the Tuen Mun Town Hall, following a successful European tour. Blending aerial acrobatics with traditional Vietnamese musical instruments, the programme vividly brings Vietnam's highland culture to the stage. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Presented by the fourth Asia+ Festival, the contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will be held on November 14 and 15. The programme will be performed by Lune Production, widely hailed as the Vietnamese Cirque du Soleil, marking the troupe's return to Hong Kong after previous critically acclaimed performances. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Presented by the fourth Asia+ Festival, the contemporary acrobatic work "Teh Dar" will be held on November 14 and 15. The programme will be performed by Lune Production, widely hailed as the Vietnamese Cirque du Soleil, marking the troupe's return to Hong Kong after previous critically acclaimed performances. (Source of photo: Lune Production) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
