Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1970-1971 — Page 69

close liaison in this work with the Medical and Health Department, the Census and Statistics Department and the Organizational Surveys Unit of the Secretariat.

Fees

189. The fees collected during the financial year amounted to $302,432. Particulars are given in Table XLIV.

Land

PART X

NEW LEGISLATION

190. The Crown Rent and Premium (Apportionment) Ordinance 1970 repealed the Crown Rents (Apportionment) Ordinance and gave the Land Officer wider powers. The Ordinance, while re-enacting the Land Officer's power to apportion Crown rent among the owners of sections, also empowered him to apportion premium among the owners of sections and to apportion Crown rent and premium among the owners of flats in multi-storey buildings. One other important difference between the repealed Ordinance and the new Ordinance is that under the latter the Land Officer may, if he thinks fit, apportion Crown rent and premium of his own motion instead of having to await an application from an owner, as was the case under the repealed Ordinance.

191. The Crown Rights (Re-entry and Vesting Remedies) Ordinance 1970 repealed the Crown Rights (Re-entry) Ordinance and provided a more equitable and practical alternative to re-entry by the Crown on a whole lot or section in cases where default has been made in respect only of a particular flat or flats in a building standing on the lot or section. In addition to the right of re-entry on a whole lot or section, which is repeated in the Ordinance, the right is given to the Crown in such cases to register a vesting notice in the Land Office, which has the effect of vesting in The Colonial Treasurer Incorporated the owner's interest in the flat in respect of which the default has occurred. The provisions for relief against forfeiture are re-enacted, so that an owner affected by the Ordinance still has the right to petition the Governor or the Supreme Court for relief against the re-entry or vesting. By notice in the Gazette the Governor appointed 1st July 1970 as the date on which the Ordinance should come into operation.

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