re-entry, resumption, expiry of the lease or purchase by agreement, and deals with the vacation and clearance of occupants of those properties required for redevelopment purposes such as urban renewal, highways projects, Mass Transit Railway and the like.
7.09
The Property Management Section is also responsible for the management on a temporary basis, pending sale, of those properties, or parts of properties, which have reverted to Government in the form of the Colonial Treasurer Incorporated due either to the failure of a former owner of a part interest to take up the offer of an assignment or because of a breach of user conditions. These C.T.I. properties will ultimately be disposed of by public auction sale.
7.10
The amount of rent collected during the year totalled approximately $12 million.
7.11
Approximately 594 properties comprising 1,144 lettings were under management at the end of the year, compared with 406 properties comprising 953 lettings in 1975/76. In addition, 4 commercial piers and 19 ferry piers and various bus canteens and regulators' offices were managed and various wayleaves issued. Among various Environmental Improvement areas where clearances of the properties within these areas were in progress, there were two major improvement areas, one being the Urban Renewal Pilot Scheme in the Western District and the other in Wan Chai. A total of 57 properties in these areas, and another 4 affected by the Mass Transit Railway, were demolished.
7.12
The Division also deals with the clarification of development conditions contained in Crown Leases and Conditions of Sale or Grant and the modification of such conditions where appropriate. Fifty-five transactions regarding modification of lease conditions were completed during the year and a steady flow of applications for modification was received.
7.13
The premium fees collected during the year amounted to approximately $27.5 million.
VALUATION BRANCH
Government Land Agent (Valuation) :
P.A. WARD, A.R.I.C.S.
D. WILKINSON, F.R.I.C.S. (Acting)
D.M. SCOTT WILL, F.R.I.C.S. (Acting)
General
7.14
The four main functions of the Valuation Branch are urban renewal and environmental improvement, renewal and regrant of renewable and non-renewable Crown leases, resumption of land required by Government for public purposes and general valuation work. To perform its duties, the Branch is divided into two Divisions, the Environmental Improvement Division and the Valuation Division, each Division comprising three Sections.
76