Modifications of Lease Conditions
148. The standard density zoning schedules which were drawn up a year ago proved generally acceptable to lessees and many redevelopment schemes of existing lots involving the modification of the lease conditions were examined. Negotiations were completed and premium paid in respect of twenty-six such schemes during the year.
Lease Enforcement
149. The new section of the lands division set up to deal with the enforcement of lease conditions carried out inspections of a large number of properties in the latter part of the year. First priority was given to the inspection of sites granted by private treaty in recent years for housing schemes; as a result, premium was collected for the removal of restrictions in respect of sixty such sites.
150. The steps to be taken to protect the better housing areas, particularly on the mainland, from the encroachment of industrial and commercial user were considered in detail during the year, but no decision was taken.
Lease Renewals
151. Systematic progress was maintained in dealing with grants of new leases for seventy-five year 'non-renewable' leases and 151 cases were completed, all but two being in respect of lots in Kowloon. The revenue collected amounted to just over $2 million, but this did not indicate the full value of the negotiations completed, since the majority of lessees availed themselves of the option to pay the renewal premium by instalments over the full period of the new lease—usually exceeding seventy-five years. The greater part of this sum of $2 million will therefore continue to be payable yearly throughout the next seventy-five years.
Land for Government and Government-sponsored projects
152. Much of the efforts of the lands division continued to be directed towards the selection, clearance, and preparation of development conditions for sites for various Government projects, in particular schools and recreational areas.
153. Reservations to meet the Resettlement and Medical Departments' programmes were completed and several sites were provisionally set aside for the Housing Society and Housing Authority.
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