Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1970-1971 — Page 26

assessing the new Crown rent, allowance will be made for the value of the land for the unexpired portion of the original term.

41. In connection with all Conditions of Sale, Regrant, Exchange, etc., close liaison is maintained with the Colonial Secretariat and the Crown Lands and Survey Office, and as far as possible all major questions arising in the course of scrutiny are discussed and decided at weekly meetings of the Director of Lands and Survey, the Principal Assistant Colonial Secretary (Lands) and the Assistant Registrar General in charge of the Land Office. After the terms have been agreed, the Land Office is responsible for having the Conditions duly executed, registered and issued.

42. The New Territories Section of the Registrar General's Depart- ment, described in paragraph 47, scrutinized and commented on 394 draft Conditions of Sale etc. relating to New Territories lots.

Sale of Flats in Uncompleted Buildings

43. The Conditions of Sale of new lots and Exclusion Orders made under the Landlord and Tenant Ordinance after 20th December 1961 contain clauses prohibiting the owners from entering into agreements for the sale of units in uncompleted buildings without the prior consent of the Registrar General (Land Officer) and then only in conformity with any conditions imposed by him. During the year, 209 applications for such consent were received, and 195, including some received in 1969-70, were approved on certain conditions. These figures were up by 11 and 23 respectively as compared with the previous year's figures. 10 applications were withdrawn and 32 were pending at the end of the year.

Modification of Lease Covenants

44. 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 93 applications for modifications were received, 33 more than in 1969-70. Questions arising out of the applica- tions are normally discussed and decided at the meetings mentioned in paragraph 41.

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