XN000022-1994-08-03 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1994

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LAND REGISTRY TO LAUNCH DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES

THE

LAND REGISTRAR, MR KENNETH PANG, TODAY (WEDNESDAY)

ANNOUNCED THE LAUNCHING OF A FULLY COMPUTERISED DIRECT SEARCH FACILITY ON URBAN LAND REGISTERS NEXT MONTH,

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THE NEW FACILITY, KNOWN AS THE 'DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES WILL ENABLE CUSTOMERS TO MAKE ON-LINE SEARCHES OF LAND RECORDS THROUGH THEIR OWN COMPUTERS WITHOUT CALLING AT LAND REGISTRY'S OFFICE.

"THE DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES IS A MAJOR ACHIEVEMENT SINCE LAND REGISTRY COMMENCED TRADING FUND OPERATION ON AUGUST 1 LAST YEAR," MR PANG SAID.

"WITH THE DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES, CUSTOMERS CAN MAKE ON-LINE SEARCHES OF THE COMPUTERISED URBAN LAND REGISTERS THROUGH COMPUTER TERMINALS AT THEIR OWN OFFICES.

"ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS SIMPLY TO KEY IN THE ADDRESS OR LOT NUMBER OF THE PROPERTY THEY WANT TO SEARCH.

INFORMATION OF THE PROPERTY WILL APPEAR ON THEIR SCREENS AND

CAN BE PRINTED FROM THEIR OWN PRINTERS.

"THE NEW SERVICE WILL ALSO ENABLE CUSTOMERS TO PLACE ORDERS FOR COPIES OF LAND RECORDS WITHOUT CALLING AT LAND REGISTRY'S SEARCH COUNTERS IN PERSON.

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"ALL THESE WILL BE DONE THROUGH A NETWORK PROVIDED BY IBM THE IBM INFORMATION NETWORK, MR PANG SAID.

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LAND REGISTRY AWARDED IBM CHINA/HONG KONG CORPORATION A THRFF- YEAR CONTRACT FOR THE PROVISION OF THE NETWORK SERVICES FOR THE SEARCH FACILITY AT A COST OF $2 MILLION IN JUNE THIS YEAR.

THE DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE TERRITORY, IS A MAJOR LEAP IN SERVICE UNDER LAND REGISTRY'S ON-GOING EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME.

THE NEW SERVICE CAN PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A HIGHLY CONVENIENT AND SPEEDY ACCESS TO THE LAND REGISTER INFORMATION. IT WILL SAVE MUCH OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORT IN OBTAINING SUCH INFORMATION,

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEW SERVICE WHICH WILL AP AVAILABLE IN MID- SEPTEMBER, CUSTOMERS CAN NOW APPLY FOR AN ACCOUNT WITH LAND REGISTRY,

THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THEIR OWN ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONNECTING THEIR COMPUTER TERMINALS AND PRINTER EQUIPMENT TO THE IBM INFORMATION NETWORK.

DETAILS OP THE DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES FACILITIES, CHARGES, KQUIPMENT REQUIREMENT AND APPLICATION PROCEDURF, CAN BE OBTAINED FROM LAND REGISTRY OR IBM.

"WE WILL CONTINUE TO EXPLORE THE LATEST INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN OTHER DIRECTIONS TO FURTHER ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF OUR SERVICES.

IN PARTICULAR, LAND REGISTRY WILL EXTEND THE DIRECT ACCESS SERVICES то THE NEW TERRITORIES LAND REGISTRIES, IN PHASES, AS AND WHEN THE LAND RECORDS IN THESE REGISTRIES ARE COMPUTERISED, MR PANG ADDED.

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