WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1980
12
REGISTRAR GENERAL TO TAKE OVER
THREE NT DISTRICT LAND REGISTRIES
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THE REGISTRAR GENERAL PLANS TO TAKE OVER THE DISTRICT LAND REGISTRIES IN SHA TIN, YUEN LONG AND TSUEN WAN BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR, SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),
MR JONES SAID THIS IN REPLY TO THE HON PETER C. WONG'S COMMENTS ON THE LAND REGISTRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH WAS PASSED.
HE SAID THAT WHEN HE INTRODUCED THE BILL IN JULY, HE DID SAY IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE REGISTRAR GENERAL SHOULD ASSUME DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES LAND REGISTRIES AND FOR THE PROCEDURES TO BE BROUGHT INTO CONFORMITY WITH THE LAND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES IN THE LAND OFFICE AT VICTORIA.
MORE STAFF WOULD BE REQUIRED TO RE-ORGANISE THEIR SYSTEMS AND PROCEDURES AND, MR JONES SAID, THE REGISTRAR GENERAL AIMED TO DIGEST THESE THREE REGISTRIES BEFORE TACKLING THE OTHER FIVE.
+BUT THE INTENTION IS FOR HIM TO TAKE OVER ALL EIGHT DISTRICT LAND REGISTRIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AS SOON AS THIS CAN PRACTICALLY BE DONE, HE ADDED.
EARLIER, THE HON PETER WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE SERIOUS AND URGENT ATTENTION TO LAND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,
HE SAID THE LAND REGISTRATION SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE DISTRICT OFFICES HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY VERY POOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME AND CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE.
BUT MR WONG REGRETTED THAT NEITHER MICROFILMING NOR THE PROPOSED NEW LAND REGISTRATION REGULATIONS, MUCH LESS COMPUTERISATION, ARE TO APPLY TO THE EIGHT DISTRICT LAND REGISTRIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
+BAD AS THIS SITUATION IS NOW, WITH THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT AND URBANISATION OF THE NEW TERRITORIES IT CAN ONLY GET WORSE UNLESS SOMETHING IS DONE, AND QUICKLY, MR WONG NOTED.
HE WAS SPEAKING ON THE BILL TO FACILITATE THE MICROFILMING OF LAND DEEDS REGISTERED AND KEPT IN THE LAND OFFICE.
THE BILL ALSO CLARIFIES THE OBLIGATIONS AND LIABILITIES OF THE LAND OFFICER, ESTABLISHES THE EVIDENTIARY VALUE OF LAND OFFICE RECORDS AND PROVIDES FOR THE MAKING OF LAND REGISTRATION REGULATIONS BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
+ALL OF THIS IS VERY USEFUL, HE SAID. IT WILL FACILITATE THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW AND IMPROVED LAND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES THEREBY IMPROVING THE SERVICE AT PRESENT PROVIDED FOR THE PUBLIC BY THE LAND OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.+
BUT HE POINTED OUT THAT MICROFILMING OF LAND DEEDS ON ITS OWN IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE.
/IT WOULD