ENG-2011 — Page 274

234 Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

square metres of building land and 20 510 square metres of agricultural land, were acquired in 2011. Compensation amounting to $549.3 million was paid in 2011.

The Lands Department was also involved in the resumption of land for urban renewal projects. In 2011, compensation totalling $224.7 million was paid to owners of 104 resumed properties affected by 18 urban renewal projects. Some four hectares of land, including underground strata for the South Island Line East and the Kwun Tong Line Extension were resumed and compensation amounting to $392 million was paid in 2011.

Land Disposal

Disposal of Government land is usually done through public auction or tender. In 2011, a total of 21 residential sites, six commercial/business sites, three hotel sites and three petrol filling stations covering an area of about 25.9 hectares were sold for about $59.77 billion.

For leased land, lessees (commonly known as 'private landowners') who wish to change the terms of their existing leases say, for carrying out a redevelopment in accordance with the prevailing town plan, may apply to the Lands Department for a lease modification or land exchange. Such applications are considered by the department acting as private landlord. Approvals, if granted, are subject to terms and conditions, which may include the payment of premiums and administrative fees. During the year, 97 lease modification and land exchange transactions were concluded, involving an area of about 91.86 hectares of land and land premiums amounting to $18.32 billion.

Land Management and Lease Enforcement

The Lands Department manages properties which have reverted to government ownership through surrender, lease expiry, resumption, re-entry, and other similar actions. During the year, 20 properties were taken over for management by the department and 13 were disposed. The department

were disposed. The department currently manages 480 properties.

The department keeps a register of man-made slopes and is responsible for the maintenance and safety of 19 000 of them. The department inspects these slopes regularly with the help of consultants. Information about the maintenance responsibility of slopes is in the department's website. During the year, routine maintenance works were carried out on 6 440 slopes and stabilisation work on 210 slopes.

The Lands Department administers a 'Small House Policy' for indigenous villagers in the New Territories and is charged with approving the rebuilding of old village houses. During the year, 1 041 applications for building small houses and 178 applications for rebuilding old village houses were approved. The department is also responsible for processing rent exemption requisitions for indigenous villagers' rural properties in accordance with the exemption criteria in the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance.