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Registration of instruments, whether or not accompanied by a plan, only governs the priority of each registered instrument under the Land Registration Ordinance. Registration by itself does not confer validity on the instrument or the plan accompanying it when it does not otherwise have.
Through the enactment of the Bill, Government will be able to start building up an effective land record system which will provide a more reliable, accurate and unambiguous definition of land parcel boundaries.
The Bills Committee also raised concern over the protection of consumers with regard to the publication of fees charged by authorized land surveyors.
Members may wish to note that such information is already quite accessible to the general public. The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors publishes a "Scale of Professional Charges for Land Surveying Services in Hong Kong" and revises it annually. All chartered Land Surveyors practising in Hong Kong are encouraged to adopt the scale. In view of Members' concern, the Administration will advise authorized land surveyors to inform their clients of the availability of the Scale upon commencement of the legislation.
Mr President, as a result of the Administration's discussion with the Bills Committee, I shall later move 18 amendments during the Committee stage to improve the Bill.
The Administration also do not disagree with the Honourable Ronald Arculli's proposed edition of new clause 30 (9) to the Land Survey Bill. A land boundary plan under the bill does not have effects beyond those it has under the Land Registration Ordinance. As I have said earlier, the bill does not affect the change of law relating to entitlements to land and interests of land owners.
Thank you, Mr President.