252 Land, Public Works and Utilities
The first elements of the plan were put in place in 2002. Amendments to the Land Registration Ordinance were passed and allowed the department to plan for major organisational changes. The amendment ordinance allows the department to offer a unified registration and information service for the whole territory in place of the separate urban and New Territories registries. This will be supported by a new IT system, the Integrated Registration Information System (IRIS). The main development of IRIS has been completed and testing of the system was carried out during the year. The IRIS is expected to be put into operation in February 2005. Enhanced services including shorter business processing time, fast Internet search service, convenient one-stop counter services and a Chinese language facility will be introduced to improve service quality.
Another element of the plan is the introduction of Land Titles Registration. The present deeds registration system has been in operation since 1844. To bring Hong Kong's system of land registration in line with most common law jurisdictions where land title systems apply, the Land Titles Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council and was passed in July 2004. Passage of the bill holds out the promise of title registration being introduced in Hong Kong, giving owners and purchasers increased security and improving the efficiency of conveyancing. The title register is also backed by an indemnity scheme to give greater protection against fraud or error. Before that promise can be realised, a great deal of further work is required. It is expected that at least two years will be required before commencement. Further development of IRIS is needed to support the introduction of title registration.
Drainage Services
Flood Prevention Infrastructure
The Drainage Services Department is implementing a series of major flood control projects in the north-western and northern parts of the New Territories and in West Kowloon, costing about $13 billion.
In the north-western New Territories, improvement works to about 23 kilometres of the major river network have been completed, covering the lower and middle reaches of the Shan Pui River, the lower and middle reaches of the Kam Tin River near Yuen Long Nam San Wai, the Ngau Tam Mei main drainage channel, and the upper reaches of the Kam Tin River near Kam Tin San Tsuen and Shek Wu Tong. As a result, the flood risk in the surrounding areas has been relieved.
Construction of the Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and the San Tin eastern main drainage channel is in progress. Upon their completion in 2006, the flooding problem in Yuen Long new town areas will be resolved and the flood risk in San Tin reduced respectively. Design work for the San Tin western drainage channel is underway.
In the northern New Territories, the critical flood mitigation undertakings include the Shenzhen River Regulation Project and the rehabilitation of the River Ganges, which aimed at improving the downstream outlets for rivers in the Sheung Shui and Ta Kwu Ling areas. The Stage I and Stage II works of the Shenzhen River Regulation Project have been completed, and together with the completion of river training