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The Lands Department is delegated with the authority to approve the display of non-commercial publicity materials at 22 451 spots in public places.
It carries out the squatter control work, done previously by the Housing Department. At present, there are about 6 770 surveyed squatter structures in the urban areas and 386 490 in the New Territories. During the year, 364 illegal structures and extensions were demolished by the Squatter Control Unit.
In April 2010, a Tree Unit was set up in the Lands Department to provide advice on matters concerning trees and landscape issues relating to leased land. The Tree Unit also gives advice on tree maintenance matters on unleased and unallocated Government land not taken up by other departments. The unit handled 3 580 applications and referrals concerning trees on private and Government land in 2011.
Land Conveyancing
The Legal Advisory and Conveyancing Office of the Lands Department provides legal advice and conveyancing services for government land transactions. These include the drafting of all government land disposal and lease modification. documents and the checking of titles in land acquisitions. It processes applications for the sale of units under construction under the Lands Department Consent Scheme. In 2011, a total of 23 applications, involving 9 112 residential units, were approved. The office also approves Deeds of Mutual Covenant. In 2011, 23 such deeds were approved. It also processes apportionments of premium and government rents, and recovers arrears of government rents by taking re-entry or vesting action.
Survey, Mapping and Geospatial Information Service
The Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Lands Department provides survey and mapping services in support of land administration and infrastructure development. It produces topographical maps, carries out land boundary surveys and maintains a geodetic survey network. A Satellite Positioning Reference Station Network and a Land Information System were established as the main survey and mapping infrastructures for these survey and mapping activities to be carried out more efficiently. The SMO also provides support to the Land Survey Authority to administer the Land Survey Ordinance which governs the registration and conduct of Authorised Land Surveyors as well as land boundary survey standards.
The Satellite Positioning Reference Station's data service supports positioning applications for mapping, construction works, navigation, land-use planning and scientific research. Starting from December 2011, the SMO also provides users with the reference station data of the Russian GLONASS satellite system in addition to that of the US GPS satellite system.
The 'Data Dissemination System' (DDS) provides a platform for the collection, integration and dissemination of common spatial data within the Government. The system also provides the e-government service for the sale and supply of digital map products to the general public and government departments online through a website called 'Hong Kong Map Service'.