ENG-2007 — Page 266

218 Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Survey and Mapping

The Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) of the Lands Department produces topographical maps, carries out land boundary surveys, establishes a territory-wide geodetic survey control network and maintains a Computerised Land Information System (CLIS). It also provides support to the Land Survey Authority to administer the Land Survey Ordinance governing the registration and discipline of Authorised Land Surveyors and controlling the standard of land boundary surveys.

It has a 'Hong Kong Satellite Positioning Reference Station Network System'. With 12 Global Positioning System (GPS) reference stations, the system continuously tracks signals from the GPS satellites and provides GPS correctional information for real-time high accuracy position-fixing and other location-based services. It serves as an active position-fixing reference framework for survey and mapping activities that are needed in support of land administration and infrastructure development in Hong Kong.

The CLIS, which has been in use since 1989, records all land boundaries for identifying land parcels and for the management of land. The CLIS is now being upgraded together with other related systems such as the Digital Map and Land Records Data Dissemination System and the Geospatial Information Hub (GIH). An advanced database will be created in the new system to facilitate fast data updating and data delivery to support more complicated applications.

In 2008, the Digital Map and Land Records Data Dissemination System will be fully implemented to facilitate efficient online ordering and delivery of digital map data through the Internet. The system will also facilitate the integration and dissemination of geospatial data within the Government under the 'Data Alignment Measures' project led by the Development Bureau.

In collaboration with other government departments, SMO has developed a government-wide web-based information integration and sharing platform called the GIH. The GIH integrates vast amounts of geospatial data across departments on land and economic development, and manages the dissemination of geospatial features and the associated attribute data relating to land administration, infrastructure development, public health, census, building management, antiquities, monuments, old and valuable trees. The GIH at present supports the operation of more than 40 bureaux and departments in the delivery of public services including heritage conservation.

Land Registration

Land Registration is essential to Hong Kong's social and economic development. The Land Registry provides a comprehensive service for registering documents. affecting land and keeping land records for public inspection. Over 2.7 million registers and 17 million documents can be accessed electronically. The table below shows the registry's business volume in 2007.