Modification of Lease Covenants
47. 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 52 applications for modifications were received, 29 fewer than in 1964-65. Most of the modifications were wanted to enable the lessee to build blocks of flats. Any questions arising out of the applications are normally discussed and decided at the meetings mentioned in paragraph 44.
48. The number of New Territories modification cases on which the Registrar General's New Territories Section gave advice to the New Territories Administration totalled 31, four less than last year.
Fulfilment of Building Covenants
49. The tightness of credit that prevailed throughout the year made it increasingly difficult for developers to raise money to finance develop- ments within the time limits imposed upon them. Recognizing the difficulty, the Government announced on 3rd November 1965 that a free extension of one year would be granted for the fulfilment of build- ing covenants in Exclusion Orders and Conditions of Sale or Grant which were granted or entered into before 1st July 1965. The concession was not retrospective, however, and the Government was not prepared to entertain applications for refund of premiums already paid for exten- sions of building covenant periods, though developers who had paid such premiums became eligible for a free extension of one year from the date of expiry of the extensions already granted.
New Territories Section
50. The New Territories Section of the Registrar General's Depart- ment gives on the spot legal advice to the New Territories Administra- tion at its own Headquarters. Owing to the departure of a number of legal officers of the Department, some of them on leave and some of them permanently, and owing also to the great increase of work created by the liquidation of The Canton Trust and Commercial Bank, Limited, this on the spot service was suspended in the summer of 1965 for four months, during which time all New Territories land matters were referred to the Land Office for legal advice. Normal operation of this Section resumed on 5th October 1965, when the staff position had
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