XN000022-1982-09-01 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1982

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LANDS DEPARTMENT TAKES OVER

LEASE ENFORCEMENT RESPONSIBILITY

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THE LANDS DEPARTMENT HAS TAKEN OVER THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEASE ENFORCEMENT WORK IN THE URBAN AREA FROM THE LEASE ENFORCEMENT UNIT OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LANDS DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE OFFICERS, FORMERLY ATTACHED TO THE LEU, HAD BEEN POSTED TO THE FOUR DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES OF HONG KONG" NORTH, HONG KONG SOUTH, KOWLOON EAST AND KOWLOON WEST.

THE IR DUTIES INCLUDE SITE CHECKS ON ALL NEW BUILDINGS AND BUILDINGS WITH SUSPECTED BREACHES OF LEASE CONDITIONS, CHECKING OF TITLES AND LEASE CONDITIONS, SEEKING OF LEGAL ADVICE, SUBMISSION OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROCEED WITH LEASE ENFORCEMENT ACTION, ISSUE OF WARNING LETTERS, COLLECTION OF FOREBEARANCE FEES, AND PREPARATION OF ALL NECESSARY STATUTORY DOCUMENTS.

HOWEVER, DUE TO THE LIMITED OFFICE SPACE AT URBAN DISTRICT LANDS OFFICES, THESE OFFICERS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT AT YU YUET LAI BUILDING IN WYNDHAM STREET.

THE LATEST CHANGES CAME AFTER THE CREATION OF THE NEW LANDS DEPARTMENT ON APRIL 1.

MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS STILL SOME CONFUSION AMONG MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC OVER THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF DISTRICT OFFICERS AND DISTRICT LANDS OFFICERS.

+ IN THE PAST, ALL LAND MATTERS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES WERE DEALT WITH BY DISTRICT OFFICERS OF THE NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION. TODAY, THE LANDS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LAND ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE SAID.

THE DEPARTMENT HAS A HEADQUARTERS (IN MURRAY BUILDING) AND 12 DISTRICTS - FOUR IN THE URBAN AREA AND EIGHT IN THE NEW TERRITORIES - EACH RUN BY A DISTRICT LANDS OFFICER.+

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