17. On the other side of the account the Department's actual expenditure of $6,292,079 was $348,223 less than the approved estimate of $6,640,302. The major cause of the underspending was a saving of $159,000 under the personal emoluments vote as a result of vacancies unfilled. The $6,292,079 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
18. 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 District Officers under the direct control of the District Commissioner New Territories in his capacity 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.
General Review
19. A general review of conditions in the Property Market and their effect on the work of the Land Office is given in Part I in paragraphs 3 to 8.
Deeds Registration
20. Under the Land Registration Ordinance the Land Office is responsible for the registration of deeds and other instruments relating to land in Hong Kong, Kowloon, portions of New Kowloon, and a number of lots in the New Territories which have been exempted from the provi- sions of Part II of the New Territories Ordinance. The Ordinance provides that all such deeds, etc., so registered shall have priority
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