Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1958-1959 — Page 45

PART X

Land

NEW LEGISLATION

70. The Stamp Duty Collection (Validation) Ordinance, 1958, was enacted to validate the collection of stamp duty on certain instruments affecting land in the New Territories to which Part II of the New Territories Ordinance does not apply.

71. The Stamp (N.T.) (Exemption and Modification) (Amendment) Regulations, 1958, made provision to exclude from the exemption and modifications contained in the Stamp (N.T.) (Exemption and Modifica- tion) Regulations, 1952, all instruments affecting land in the New Territories to which Part II of the New Territories Ordinance does not apply, in other words, all instruments relating to those lots in the New Territories which are registered in the Land Office, Victoria.

72. The Charities (Land Acquisition) Ordinance, 1958, prohibits the acquisition of land by charities except by licence of the Governor. Any land acquired without a licence is liable to forfeiture to the Crown. The Ordinance permits charities to invest in mortgages subject to certain conditions, and does not affect any land held by a charity before the commencement of the Ordinance.

73. The Registered Trustees Incorporation Ordinance, 1958, pro- vides a means whereby Trustees of various bodies can become a body corporate with perpetual succession, and so obviate the difficulties arising from the holding of land by frequently changing trustees.

74. The Resettlement Ordinance, 1958, provides inter alia for the setting aside of land for resettlement estates and cottage resettlement areas, and the deposit of maps or plans thereof in the Land Office.

Companies

75. The Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, 1958, was enacted to amend Section 17 of the principal Ordinance so as to provide that a company formed primarily for any charitable purpose within the meaning of the Charities (Land Acquisition) Ordinance, 1958, shall not hold land in the Colony otherwise than in accordance with the provisions of that Ordinance. The opportunity was taken to make certain miscellaneous minor amendments at the same time.

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