ENG-2018 — Page 248

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

In 2018, the department demolished 182 illegal structures and extensions, in addition to unauthorised structures cleared in the context of land control and lease enforcement. It also handled about 16,500 cases of reported unlawful occupation of government land and about 1,800 cases involving breaches of lease conditions.

The department keeps a register of registered man-made slopes that records maintenance responsibility. It also inspects and maintains about 18,000 registered man-made slopes regularly, implementing maintenance works on about 7,000 of them in 2018.

During the year, the department's Tree Unit provided in-house advice about tree and landscape issues on leased land and unmanaged government land in about 3,640 cases. The Land and Vegetation Contract Management Section of the department conducted ad hoc vegetation maintenance work in about 26,740 cases.

Small House Policy Administration

The Lands Department administers the small house policy for indigenous villagers in the New Territories and the rebuilding of old village houses. In 2018, it approved 830 applications to build small houses and 335 applications to rebuild old village houses. The department processes rent exemption requisitions for indigenous villagers' rural properties according to exemption criteria listed in the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance.

Land Conveyancing

The Lands Department's Legal Advisory and Conveyancing Office provides legal advice and conveyancing services for government land transactions. It drafts all government land disposal and lease modification documents, checks titles in land acquisitions, administers the Lands Department Consent Scheme, approves Deeds of Mutual Covenant, processes apportionments of premiums and government rents and recovers arrears of government rents by taking re-entry or vesting action. In 2018, it approved 44 applications for the sale of 21,722 units under construction and approved 40 Deeds of Mutual Covenant.

Land Acquisition

Private land may be acquired for public use through voluntary surrender or resumption under ordinances which provide for compensation for the property's value and the loss of business. If the amount of payment cannot be agreed, either party may seek adjudication at the Lands Tribunal. The Lands Department is involved in resuming land for public works, urban renewal and railway development projects under the Lands Resumption Ordinance and other legislation. In 2018, some 2,400 sq m of private land were acquired and $563.7 million compensation was paid for public works projects, $75 million compensation was paid to owners of 22 resumed properties affected by 12 urban renewal projects, and $7 million compensation was paid for railway projects.

Land Registration

The Land Registry registers land-related documents and keeps land records in electronic format for public search. Major types of documents include agreements for the sale and purchase of building units and land, assignments of building units and land, and mortgages and legal

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