Revenue and Expenditure
19. As compared with 1965-66 the grand total of the Department's contribution to the revenue of the Colony was down by $219,000 to $5,152,421, this being due to a drop of $313,000 in Companies registra- tion fees because of the trend towards registering with a smaller nominal capital. This drop was to some extent offset by increases of $79,000 and $59,000 in Land Office and Official Receiver's fees, but receipts were also lower in the Trade Marks and Births and Deaths Registries. However, as compared with the Approved Estimates, excluding interest payable on the Government loans to The Canton Trust and Com- mercial Bank, Ltd, and the Ming Tak Bank, the outcome was more favourable, the Estimates being exceeded by $131,000.
20. On the other side of the account the Department's actual expenditure of $4,568,620 was $263,000 less than the approved estimate of $4,831,300, savings of $156,000 being made on Personal Emoluments (due mainly to delays in recruiting legal and other staff), $46,000 in rent, and $24,000 in stores and equipment. The $4,568,620 does not, however, represent the total cost of running the Department. To arrive at that one would have to add the cost of the Government accommodation occupied and a sum representing the value of pensions and other 'fringe' benefits. On the other hand it should be borne in mind that the Marriage and Births and Deaths Registries are as a matter of policy not run on a self-supporting basis, and the fees charged therein represent only a fraction of the cost of running these Registries.
Functions
PART II
LAND OFFICE
21. The Land Office is responsible for the registration of all instru- ments affecting land, the settling and registration of Conditions of Sale, Grant and Exchange of Crown land, the issue, renewal, variation and termination of Crown leases, the granting of Mining Leases, and advising the Government generally on matters relating to land. The District Land Offices in the New Territories are separately administered by the District Commissioner New Territories as Assistant Land Officer. Accordingly, the figures given in the following paragraphs do not include figures in respect of land in the New Territories registered in the District Land Offices.
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