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permission to build small houses and approve the rebuilding of old village houses. They also issue short-term tenancies, short-term waivers or government land licences for rebuilding temporary domestic structures. The department is also responsible for processing rent exemption requisitions for indigenous villagers' rural properties in accordance with the exemption criteria of the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance.
The Lands Department exercises its authority against illegal occupants of land under the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance and the Summary Offences Ordinance. The ordinances provide that it can take enforcement action which includes the prosecution of offenders. against unauthorised occupation, excavation, cultivation or other forms of trespass on government land. The department also participates in joint efforts to hinder the spread of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis by removing of vegetation and stagnant water on government land. During the year it carried out such work on 1 935 occasions. In addition, 885 warning letters were sent to government leaseholders, mainly to curb the unauthorised use of land or unauthorised breaches of lease conditions.
The Lands Department, in collaboration with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, continues to operate the scheme for the display of non- commercial publicity materials or banners at 21 877 designated spots in public places.
Government Conveyancing
The Legal Advisory and Conveyancing Office of the Lands Department provides professional legal services to the Lands Department and certain other government departments in respect of all government land transactions and associated matters. It is responsible for the drafting of all government land disposal, lease modification and acquisition documents, and the apportionment and recovery of arrears of government rents (by re-entry or vesting action) 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 residential non-renewable leases in multi-ownership developments, The Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporated for the purchase of accommodation in private developments for welfare purposes, the Secretary for the Civil Service in relation to government housing loan schemes, and the Housing Department for the disposal of residential flats under the various Tenants Purchase Schemes. In 2005, it also prepared relevant land-related documentation for the divestment of the shopping malls and car parking facilities by the Housing Department to the Link Real Estate Investment Trust.
The office processes applications from developers for the sale of units under construction in developments that are subject to the Lands Department Consent Scheme. During 2005, 37 applications for the sale of such units in residential and non-residential developments, involving 10 102 residential units, were approved.
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