total sum of $1.08m. was recovered in three cases, including two referred to the Legal Department in the previous year. Five cases were pending at the end of the year.
Armed Services and Ministry of Defence Lands
58. The Land Office maintains registers of all lands appropriated for the armed services and the Ministry of Defence, and is responsible for preparing all documents relating thereto. Under the policy an- nounced by the Government in December 1966, the old Military Lands Account procedure established in the 1890s was superseded by a new arrangement, under which the Ministry of Defence has agreed to return to the Hong Kong Government free of charge any land appropriated for the armed services or the Ministry of Defence as soon as the land is no longer required for purposes in connection with the defence of the Colony, and the Government has agreed to provide land free to the Ministry of Defence when the Government agrees the land is needed for such purposes. During the year Memoranda of Appropriation were completed and executed in respect of two pieces of land provided by the Government for use by the Ministry of Defence, one for residential accommodation for Ministry of Defence personnel and the other for a wireless station. In con- sideration of the appropriation of the former, the Ministry of Defence simultaneously surrendered Admiralty Lot No. 10 at Argyle Street, Kowloon, to the Government by Deed of Renunciation.
Acquisition of Land by Charities
that
59. The Charities (Land Acquisition) Ordinance provides 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. The power to sign such licences was delegated by the Governor to the Registrar General in 1959, and in 1969 was in addition delegated to the Assistant Registrar General in charge of the Land Office. 61 licences were granted during the year, three to educational bodies, 10 to welfare bodies, and 48 to religious bodies, including 39 to Protestant bodies, two to Roman Catholic bodies, five each to Buddhist bodies and two to Taoist bodies. 45 licences were in respect of flats or floors in buildings in urban areas; two in respect of flats or floors in buildings in the New Territories; four in respect of lots in urban areas totalling 5,686 sq. ft.; and 10 in
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