officers, Legal Assistants, Assistant Registrars and Executive Officers met for lunch every three or four months at the Jockey Club or Ladies Recreation Club. These lunches provide an excellent opportunity for the new members of the staff and those working at outlying Registries and in mobile teams to meet, and keep in touch with, their colleagues at the Central Government Offices. A departmental meeting of the same officers was held on 25th January, 1961 to review various aspects of the Department's work, and this was followed by light refreshments and a showing of pictures taken by the Registrar General on his home leave.
114. The library continues to be well patronized by members of the staff, especially during lunch hours, when the radio and gramophone are often used. The lending section of the library is gradually being added to, and quite a few books are taken out for home reading. On the 4th, 5th and 6th May, 1960, Mr. Wai Ka-lai of the Land Office, an enthusiastic amateur photographer, gave an exhibition of some of his work in the library, and this was very well received.
115. The Department has a Charitable and Benevolent Fund sup- ported by voluntary contributions from members of the staff of the rank of Class I clerk and above. During the year $50 was given to the Community Typhoon Fund and $52 spent on refreshments for members of the staff working overtime on the Peony House and other cases. The balance held at the end of the year amounted to $591.
Acknowledgments
116. As is abundantly evident from the earlier Parts of this Report the year has been one of constantly expanding activity in nearly every section of the Department, notably in the Land Office and Companies Registry. Though the staff of the Department is also constantly being increased to meet the growing amount of work, there is an appreciable time-lag between authorization and recruitment, with the result that delays in dealing with certain types of cases could not be avoided. For their patience in bearing with these delays and for all the co-operation and assistance received, I am most grateful to the Government Depart- ments, Solicitors, Accountants and others with whom the Department has much to do. I must also pay tribute to the excellent manner in which all members of the staff have coped with the great volume of work handled by the Department during the year, and express my special thanks to those of them who cheerfully worked after office
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