XN000022-1996-04-03 — Page 6

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Release of VMs from detention

A total of 207 Vietnamese migrants were released from detention today (Wednesday) as a consequence of the Privy Council judgment.

It was established this morning on further verification that seven had been cleared for return to Vietnam. They were not according released.

The group comprises 77 men, 58 women, 36 boys and 36 girls.

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More agreements lodged with Land Registry in March

A total of 11,917 sale and purchase agreements for building units, which include both residential and non-residential properties, were lodged with the Land Registry last month.

The figure represents, an increase of 29.9 per cent from that of February this year, and an increase of 59 per cent when compared with March last year.

The total consideration of these agreements in the month is $37.42 billion, up 43.8 per cent and 83.4 per cent as compared with the amounts for February 1996 and March 1995 respectively.

The figures are contained in the monthly statistics released today (Wednesday) by the Land Registry on deeds relating to property transactions received for registration in the Urban and New Territories Land Registries last month. Relevant statistics for February 1996 and March 1995 were provided for comparison.

Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months and

the year-on-year rate of change were also released.

These statistics generally relate to land transactions executed up to four weeks prior to their submission for registration, as there is usually a time lag between the execution of deeds and their lodgement for registration.

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