CO129-594-4 Lands and Survey Policy Directive 21-2-1945 - 1-12-1945 — Page 12

SECRET

MALAYA

LONG-TERM POLICY DIRECTIVES

LANDS, MINES AND SURVEYS

12

I. Land Policy

(1)

There should be two separate land Departments, (a) for

the Malayan Union and (b) for Singapore, respectively, each under

a Commissioner of Lands, who should be a senior officer of the

administrative service.

(2)` The property in, and control of, Crown and State lands,

water, and minerals in the Union should be vested in the Central

authority.

(3)

Land, water and minerals in Singapore should remain

vested in the Crown,

(4)

All disputed dealings in land since December 8, 1941,

should be subject to investigation and decision, which should be

undertaken as soon as possible.

(5)

(6)

(土) The policy throughout the Union should be the

establishment of a land system modelled on the

Federated malay States system of registration of title

and the law relating thereto. This will involve the

introduction of the registration of title in the

Settlements of Penang and Malacca as soon as possible.

(11) Due regard should be had to the existence of special provisions applicable to local customs and

conditions.

Registration of Title should be introduced as soon as

possible in Singapore.

(7)

Future alienation of town lande should not be by grants in perpetuity but by leases for a term not exceeding 99 years, subject to the provisions for revision of rents laid down in Section 31 of the F.H.8. Land Code. Subject to the provision of paragraph (5) (ii) of this directive country lands and mining lands