ENG-2003 — Page 279

LAND, PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES

Government Conveyancing

The Legal Advisory and Conveyancing Office of the Lands Department provides professional legal services to the Government in respect of all government land transactions and associated matters. It is responsible for the drafting of all government land disposal and acquisition documents, the apportionment and recovery of arrears (by re-entry or vesting action) of government rents, other than those payable under the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance. It provides conveyancing services to The Financial Secretary Incorporated for the extension of non-renewable leases, The Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporated for the purchase of accommodation for welfare purposes in private developments and other government departments in relation to certain loan schemes.

The office also processes applications for the sale of units in uncompleted developments that are subject to the Lands Department Consent Scheme. In the latter half of 2003, the office conducted a review of the Consent Scheme with a view to further strengthening its operation and to improving protection for flat purchasers. The Lands Department will implement the improvement measures in 2004-05.

The office is also responsible for the approval of Deeds of Mutual Covenant which, among other things, set out the rights and obligations between the manager and co-owners of a development. During the year, 32 applications for the sale of units in uncompleted developments, involving 17 813 residential units, and 44 Deeds of Mutual Covenant were approved.

Survey and Mapping

The Survey and Mapping Office provides various survey and mapping services for land, building and engineering developments in Hong Kong. Specifically, it provides maps and aerial photographs, land boundary survey service for land administration, and aerial survey and photogrammetric service for specific purposes in addition to general mapping. It also establishes and maintains the territory-wide Geodetic Network which provides a unique geographical positioning reference system. It administers the Land Survey Ordinance, which governs the conduct and practice of Authorised Land Surveyors, and controls the standard of land boundary survey in land subdivision. It is delegated with the authority to name roads and streets under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, and to name geographical places on request. To fulfil these functions effectively and efficiently, the office has set up a Land Information Centre housing a computerised land information system and its sub-systems and databases. The Basic Mapping System provides the 1:1 000 basic digital mapping covering all of Hong Kong. The Cadastral Information System records all land boundaries for identifying land parcels.

During the year, the office established a Territorial Continuous Global Positioning System Array with six GPS reference stations for accurate and efficient 3-D positioning. Six more of these stations will be set up in the near future. When fully operational, the system will greatly facilitate survey operations.

The Basic Mapping System contains updated digital map databases of graphic map features with attribute information. Licences and permits are issued to private organisations to use the databases to develop their own applications, map products and websites. Utility companies, engineering consultants, computing system consultants and education institutes use the databases for applications involving

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