Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1955-1956 — Page 8

PART II

LAND REGISTRY

History

3. The Land Office is the oldest and the largest branch of the department. Since on the foundation of the Colony in 1841 it was essential that land be made available immediately to the merchants and others desirous of establishing their business or residence in the Colony, a Land Officer was appointed early in that year to deal with applications for land. At first the Land Office formed part of the Surveyor General's Department, but on 16th June, 1883, it was transferred to the Supreme Court, and the Registrar of the Supreme Court became Land Officer with a Deputy Land Officer to assist him. The Land Officer became an independent appointment on 1st January, 1902, and remained such until the appointment was amalgamated with others, in the Registrar General on 1st April, 1949.

Functions

4. The principal function of the Land Office is the regis- tration of all instruments affecting land in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon. Although the system of registration is legally one of registration of deeds and not of title, the Land Registers, which were opened in 1844, show in a clear and accurate manner the devolution of title to each lot or section of a lot, and details of all incumbrances thereon. The result is that in practice the system is regarded as virtually equivalent to registration of title.

5. Among the other functions of the Land Officer are the scrutiny and recording of Conditions of Sale, Grant, Exchange and Extension of Crown land, the issue, renewal, variation and termination of Crown leases, the granting of mining leases, and advising Government generally on matters relating to land.

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