ENG-2013 — Page 242

12

Infrastructure Development and Heritage Conservation

Land Conveyancing

The Lands Department's Legal Advisory and Conveyancing Office provides legal advice and conveyancing services for government land transactions. These include the drafting of all government land disposal and lease modification documents and the checking of titles in land acquisitions. It also processes applications for the sale of units under construction under the Lands Department Consent Scheme. In 2013, 27 applications were approved. Of them, 20 applications related to residential developments, involving a total of 10,884 residential units. The office also approves Deeds of Mutual Covenant. In 2013, 26 such deeds were approved. It also processes apportionments of premium and government rents, and recovers arrears of government rents by taking re-entry or vesting action.

Survey, Mapping and Geospatial Information Service

The Lands Department's Survey and Mapping Office (SMO) provides survey and mapping services in support of land administration and infrastructure development. It produces topographical maps, carries out land boundary surveys and maintains a geodetic survey network. The SMO's Satellite Positioning Reference Station Network and Land Information System enable it to carry out survey and mapping activities more efficiently. The SMO also provides support to the Land Survey Authority to administer the Land Survey Ordinance which governs the registration and conduct of Authorised Land Surveyors as well as land boundary survey standards.

The Satellite Positioning Reference Station's data service supports positioning applications for mapping, construction works, navigation, land-use planning and scientific research. In 2013, the SMO and the Cartography and Cadastre Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government (SARG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Work Arrangement for Sharing of Satellite Positioning Reference Station Data between Hong Kong and Macao. This will enhance the data service by extending the coverage of positioning applications for the area between Hong Kong and Macao.

The SMO sells and supplies digital map products to the general public and government departments online through its 'Hong Kong Map Service' website. It also operates 'GeoInfo Map, a publicly accessible service which provides the general public with a convenient means of gaining access to digital maps and geospatial information provided by various departments through the internet. The 'GeoMobile Map HK' (a mobile version of the GeoInfo Map) allows users to view digital maps or search for community facilities with their mobile devices.

The SMO's digital '3D Spatial Data' shows ground features in three-dimensional and photo- realistic forms. It can be used to create a virtual 3D city model of Hong Kong or in different 3D applications to facilitate project planning, building information modelling and engineering design works. In 2013, SMO launched a complete set of High Resolution Orthophoto using aerial photos taken in 1963. This new digital map identifies old ground features facilitating land boundary surveys of Old Scheduled Lots of the Demarcation Districts in the New Territories.

194