the Crown Rights (Re-entry) Ordinance, and (b) an action for a declara- tion that the re-entry upon the lots was wrongful and an order that the memorial of re-entry be vacated. In August 1964 they also petitioned the Governor in Council for relief. A settlement was finally reached whereby the petitioners consented to the dismissal of their Action and Petition to the Court, acknowledged that they were in breach of the sale conditions, and paid the stamp duty on all the declarations of trust at the conveyance on sale rate. The Action and Petition were dismissed by consent and in January 1965 the Governor in Council ordered the cancellation of the re-entry on payment by the petitioners of a penalty of $400,000.
Naval, Military and Air Force Lands
59. The Land Office maintains registers of all lands held by the Admiralty, War Department and Air Ministry, and is responsible for preparing all documents relating thereto. The Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 provided for the succession to all such lands by the Secretary of State for Defence, a Corporation sole incorporated in United Kingdom by virtue of that Act. The year's transactions included (a) the formal surrender by the Secretary of State for Defence of an area of approximately 10,020 square feet of the site occupied by the Gun Club Hill Barracks in consideration of the sum of $801,600 credited to the Secretary of State for Defence in the Military Lands Account, and (b) the transfer of an area of approximately 4,182 square feet as an extension to the same site for the re-provisioning of the access to the Gun Club Hill Barracks in consideration of the sum of $334,560 credited to the Hong Kong Government in the Military Lands Account.
Acquisition of Land by Charities
60. The Charities (Land Acquisition) Ordinance 1958 provides that land shall not be assured to or for the benefit of or acquired or possessed. by or on behalf of or for the benefit of any charity as defined in the Ordinance or assured, acquired or possessed for any charitable purpose, otherwise than under the authority of a licence granted by the Governor. 51 such licences were granted during the year, two to an educational body and 49 to religious bodies for miscellaneous religious purposes, non-profit-making schools, social welfare purposes, and, in four cases, investment. 29 licences were in respect of flats or floors in buildings in urban areas; five in respect of flats or floors in buildings in the New Territories; nine in respect of lots in urban areas totalling 71,849 square
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