be prejudiced should the scheme be approved and whilst in the majority of cases property acquisition was not required, in the few cases where this proved necessary negotiations were complicated. The total number of Mass Transit cases dealt with during the year was 204 as compared with 201 cases in the preceding year. Another similar matter that has an increasing impact on property development and the work of the Division is acquisition of land for road improvements and the provision of service lanes. Over 200 cases were dealt with during the year, mostly by free surrender. The Division also provides expert witnesses to appear for the Crown before Arbitration Boards and Appeal Tribunals.
7.10 The Division made 162 assessments of Incremental Value under the provisions of the Demolished Buildings (Redevelopment of Sites) Ordinance, completed 109 modifications involving premia in excess of $12 million and made valuations of property for Estate Duty purposes to a total of $260 million.
7.11 Staff shortage, aggravated by the removal of a group of officers to handle regrants and lease renewals, has meant almost complete suspension of lease enforcement action for the third consecutive year, checking of lease conditions being restricted solely to those cases where it was essential to certify compliance with such conditions. Unless the recruitment position improves, a long period of inoperation, which could have adverse financial and social consequences, seems bound to ensue.
Lease Renewal
7.12 In order to reduce the large number of outstanding applications for regrant and renewal, and in order to prepare the way for the main body of the 1973 New Kowloon lease renewals, a number of officers were removed from the Valuation Division in order to form, on 1st November, 1971, what will become a separate division for this type of work. During the short period that it has been constituted the entire backlog of regrant and renewal cases has been cleared. In addition, it has carried out a comprehensive appraisal of lease renewal policy and has formulated and set up the necessary procedures for regrants and renewals of undivided shares through the machinery of the Colonial Treasurer Incorporated.
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be prejudiced should the scheme be approved and whilst in the majority of cases property acquisition was not required, in the few cases where this proved necessary negotiations were complicated. The total number of Mass Transit cases dealt with during the year was 204 as compared with 201 cases in the preceding year. Another similar matter that has an increasing impact on property development and the work of the Division is acquisition of land for road improvements and the pro- vision of service lanes. Over 200 cases were dealt with during the year, mostly by free surrender. The Division also provides expert witnesses to appear for the Crown before Arbitration Boards and Appeal Tribunals.
7.10 The Division made 162 assessments of Incremental Value under the provisions of the Demolished Buildings (Redevelopment of Sites) Ordinance, completed 109 modifications involving premia in excess of $12 million and made valuations of property for Estate Duty purposes to a total of $260 million.
7.11 Staff shortage, aggravated by the removal of a group of officers to handle regrants and lease renewals, has meant almost complete suspension of lease enforcement action for the third consecutive year, checking of lease conditions being restricted solely to those cases where it was essential to certify compliance with such conditions. Unless the recruitment position improves, a long period of inoperation, which could have adverse financial and social consequences, seems bound to ensue.
Lease Renewal
7.12 In order to reduce the large number of outstanding applica- tions for regrant and renewal, and in order to prepare the way for the main body of the 1973 New Kowloon lease renewals, a number of officers were removed from the Valuation Division in order to form, on 1st November, 1971, what will become a separate division for this type of work. During the short period that it has been constituted the entire backlog of regrant and renewal cases has been cleared. In addition, it has carried out a comprehensive appraisal of lease renewal policy and has formulated and set up the necessary procedures for regrants and renewals of undivided shares through the machinery of the Colonial Treasurer Incorporated.
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