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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977
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LAND TRANSACTION REGISTRATIONS IN N.T. NOW MUCH FASTER
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THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION THIS YEAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO ALMOST HALVE THE TIME REQUIRED FOR THE REGISTRATION OF LAND TRANSACTIONS.
THE SECRETARY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES, THE HON. DAVID AKERS-JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE RECRUITMENT OF NEW STAFF APPROVED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR HAD REDUCED LAST YEAR'S AVERAGE REGISTRATION WAITING PERIOD OF 10 WEEKS TO SIX WEEKS.
HE SAID, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. PETER C. WONG, THAT HE WAS NOW HAVING TALKS WITH THE REGISTRAR GENERAL TO SEE IF OTHER IMPROVEMENTS COULD BE INTRODUCED TO FURTHER REDUCE THE WAITING PERIOD.
MR. AKERS-JONES SAID HE WOULD ALSO HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE LAW SOCIETY TO SEE IF THERE IS ANYTHING MORE THAN CAN REASONABLY BE DONE.+
HE DESCRIBED THE FACILITIES FOR REGISTRATION OF DOCUMENTS IN THE VARIOUS REGISTRIES OF THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE NEW TERRITORIES AS ADEQUATE, AND THE SYSTEM EMPLOYED BY THE REGISTRIES TO BE GENERALLY ADEQUATE.
+ SHOULD PERHAPS EXPLAIN THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT QUITE THE SAME AS THAT EMPLOYED IN THE VICTORIA LAND OFFICE BECAUSE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE MANIFESTLY DIFFERENT, HE SAID.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, LAND REGISTRY STAFF ARE CONCERNED WITH THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF STAMP DUTY AND THEY HELP PREPARE DOCUMENTS FOR VILLAGERS. THEY ALSO POINT OUT ERRORS AND OMISSIONS IN DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR REGISTRATION.
+ IN ADDITION, MULTI-STOREY DEVELOPMENT HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER AND COMPLEXITY OF TRANSACTIONS, AND THIS HAS GIVEN RISE TO DELAYS, HE SAID.
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