Registrar-Generals-Department-Annual-report-1972-1973 — Page 26

premium. During the year 90 applications for modifications were received, 11 more than in 1971-72. Questions arising out of the applications are normally discussed and decided at the meetings men- tioned in paragraph 46.

50. The number of New Territories modification cases on which the Registrar General's New Territories Section gave advice to the New Territories Administration totalled 38, two less than last year.

New Territories Section

51. 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 in North Kowloon. It is staffed by a Senior Solicitor, an Assistant Registrar, two experienced Land Office Clerical Officers and one Audio Typist. Due to the shortage of Solicitors in the Department it became necessary towards the end of March 1972 to withdraw the Senior Solicitor from the New Territories Administration Headquarters. In the meantime the Assistant Registrar and his clerical staff continued to assist at the New Territories Admin- istration Headquarters on routine matters, while a limited amount of legal advice was still given by a Senior Solicitor in the Land Office. It was possible, with the recruitment of further professional staff, to resume the full service to the New Territories Administration in October 1972.

Crown Leases

52. When the purchaser or grantee of Crown land has complied with all the conditions of the sale or grant, he becomes entitled to a Crown lease of the lot and has to take up the lease when called upon by the Land Officer to do so. In many cases, however, the Land Office finds it difficult to persuade owners to take up their Crown leases when ready. This is because the taking up of a Crown lease involves an owner in a certain amount of trouble and expense. Although the standard fee for a Crown lease is only $175, it is necessary where there is a mortgage or other incumbrance on the property to employ a Solicitor to clear the title and reinstate the mortgage or incumbrance after issue. Since the Crown is the lessor, the vast majority of owners are usually content to allow their title to rest on the Conditions of Sale, Regrant, Exchange, etc., on which they hold their property, and such titles are in practice universally recognized as good marketable titles.

18