ENG-2005 — Page 288

242 Land, Public Works and Utilities

The registry is implementing major changes to improve the security of title and further enhance the efficiency and accessibility of its services. In February 2005, the launch of the Central Registration System and the IRIS completed the integration of land registration services. It has given Hong Kong a unified land registry service with information services available to all over the Internet.

During the year the Land Registry established new teams to undertake the preparation work needed to replace the present system of deeds registration with a title registration system. The title register provides conclusive evidence of title to property, thus improving the security and ease with which dealings in property can be conducted. The principal legislation to enable this change, the Land Titles Ordinance, was enacted in 2004. Further legislation, information technology (IT) systems and training programmes are required to allow the new system to be launched.

Drainage Services

Flood Prevention Infrastructure

The Drainage Services Department is working on a series of major flood control projects in the northwestern and northern parts of the New Territories and in West Kowloon, costing about $12.3 billion.

In the northwestern New Territories, improvement works to 26.5 kilometres of the major river network have been completed, covering Shan Pui River, Kam Tin River and Ngau Tam Mei main drainage channel. As a result, the flood risk in the surrounding areas has been reduced.

Construction of Yuen Long Bypass Floodway and San Tin eastern main drainage channel is in progress. When the work is finished in 2006, the flooding problem in areas of Yuen Long New Town and east of San Tin will be resolved. Planning and design work for San Tin western drainage channel is under way.

In the northern New Territories, the critical flood mitigation undertakings include Shenzhen River Regulation Project Stage III, which involves training four kilometres of river channel from Lo Wu to its confluence with Ping Yuen River, is due for completion by the end of 2006.

Improvement work on 1.7 kilometres of Ping Yuen River to tackle the flooding problem in Ta Kwu Ling will be finished by early 2006, while work on 1.8 kilometres of Ma Wat River in Kau Lung Hang, Tai Po North, is due for completion by the end of 2008. Design work for another 19.5 kilometres of drainage channels in the northern New Territories, including upstream portions of Ping Yuen, Sheung Yue and Ng Tung Rivers, is also in hand. Upon completion of these remaining river training works, the regional flooding problem in the northern New Territories will be overcome.

There are 25 village flood pumping schemes in operation to protect low-lying villages from flooding. These schemes involve constructing a bund around a low-lying village and pumping storm water from the area within the bund to an outside channel during rainstorms. Similar schemes for Shui Pin Tsuen and Tai Kiu are under construction.