XN000022-1984-06-06 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 1984

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$21-M COMPUTER PROJECT FOR LAND OFFICE

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WORK HAS BEGUN ON A $21-MILLION PROJECT TO COMPUTERISE THE LAND RECORDS OF THE LAND OFFICE OVER A FOUR-YEAR PERIOD, THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, MR NOEL GLEESON, SAID TODAY.

WHEN COMPLETED, THE PROJECT WILL MEAN CONSIDERABLE SAVINGS IN BOTH WORK TIME AND ANNUAL STAFF AND ACCOMMODATION COSTS, HE SAID.

THE COST WILL INCLUDE THE PURCHASE OF HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, AT $8.5 MILLION AND COMPUTER SITE PREPARATION, AT $1.4 MILLION.

WORK ON THE PROJECT INCLUDES THE DEVISING OF A WORK SCHEDULE, THE PREPARATION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS FOR HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, THE DESIGNING OF WORK PROCEDURES, THE DRAWING UP OF COMPUTER SITE PLANS, THE COMPILATION OF WORK MANUALS AND THE DRAFTING OF AMENDMENTS TO THE LAND REGISTRATION REGULATIONS.

A PART OF THE PROJECT INVOLVES THE TECHNICAL CONVERSION OF INFORMATION ON SOME 1.2 MILLION LAND OFFICE REGISTER CARDS INTO COMPUTER DATA.

THE TECHNICAL CONVERSION, WHICH WILL TAKE ABOUT TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE AND REQUIRE A TEAM OF 66 STAFF, IS EXPECTED TO START IN EARLY 1986.

BY THAT TIME THE WHOLE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THE LAND OFFICE, WILL HAVE MOVED TO NEW AND IMPROVED GOVERNMENT ACCOMMODATION IN QUEENSWAY, NEXT TO THE NEW SUPREME COURT BUILDING.

COMPUTER ISATION OF LAND OFFICE REGISTER CARDS WILL ENABLE THE LAND OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE A BETTER SERVICE, BY REDUCING THE TIME REQUIRED FOR MAKING A LAND SEARCH FROM ABOUT 20 MINUTES TO ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, BY SIMPLIFYING SEARCH PROCEDURES AND BY REDUCING THE TIME FOR REGISTRATION OF A DEED FROM TWO WEEKS TO ABOUT TWO DAYS.

THE COMPUTER ISATION WOULD ALSO RESULT IN SAVINGS OF ABOUT $6 MILLION IN STAFF COST PER ANNUM AND ABOUT $1.3 MILLION IN ACCOMMODATION COST PER ANNUM, MR GLEESON SAID.

HK SEEN AS BEST PLACE FOR MANUFACTURING

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THE DECISION BY A HONG KONG-BASED INTERNATIONAL COMPANY TO OPEN A NEW BRANCH FACTORY IN TAI PO SHOWS THAT HONG KONG IS RECOGNISED AS THE BEST PLACE IN WHICH TO LOCATE A MANUFACTURING FACILITY.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF INDUSTRY, MR JOHN YAXLEY, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF THE BRANCH FACTORY OF LAWS FASHION KNITTERS LTD IN TAI PO.

THE COMPANY,