Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1961-1962 — Page 14

Territories were until 1959 granted for a term of 75 years from 1st July 1898, renewable for 24 years less the last three days thereof. Since 1959 they have been granted for 99 years from 1st July 1898, less the last three days. All the New Territories Crown leases therefore expire three days before the expiry of the period of the lease of the New Territories from China.

Sales and Grants of Land

17. 400 agreements for the sale or grant of Crown land were registered as follows:

Conditions of Sale

Conditions of Extension

Conditions of Exchange Conditions of Grant

Conditions of Regrant

104

25

23

106

142

400

This compares with totals of 232 in 1960-61 and 165 in 1959-60. The bare statistics do not give an adequate idea of the work involved. Each case other than a new sale requires a report on title, and owing to Town Planning and other Public Works Department requirements there are usually many Special Conditions requiring careful scrutiny and drafting. In this connexion close liaison is maintained with the Secretariat and the Crown Lands and Survey Office, and so far as possible all major questions arising in the course of scrutiny are discussed and decided at weekly meetings of the Registrar General, Deputy Registrar General, Superintendent of Crown Lands and Surveys, Assistant Superintendent of Crown Lands, and the Assistant Colonial Secretary (Lands). After the terms have been agreed, the Land Office is responsible for having the Conditions of Sale etc. duly executed by the lessees.

18. The Land Office also scrutinized and commented on 142 draft Conditions of Sale etc, relating to lots in the New Territories.

Modification of Lease Covenants

19. Before the war many lots were sold with height and other restrictions which are, under the changed conditions of modern Hong Kong, no longer considered necessary. There are therefore many cases in which Government is prepared to grant modifications of the original restrictions on terms usually including the payment of an additional premium. During the year 135 applications for modifications were received, this being by far the largest number ever received in one year.

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