ENG-2018 — Page 253

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

charges. More than three million land registers and 24 million land-related documents can be retrieved electronically. During the year, 526,632 land-related documents were lodged for registration.

Hong Kong adopts a deeds registration system. To enhance certainty of title and simplify conveyancing procedures, the Land Titles Ordinance has been enacted to provide for a title registration system which will come into effect after a comprehensive review is completed and the necessary amending legislation is passed. The registry is working with stakeholders to forge consensus on rectification and indemnity arrangements, a mechanism for bringing existing land under the title registration system and a proposal to implement title registration on new land first.

Survey, Mapping and Geospatial Information Service

The Lands Department's Survey and Mapping Office provides survey and mapping services to support land administration and infrastructure development, and develops maps in digital and printed formats with different themes to meet the public's needs, such as topographic maps, countryside maps and guide books. The office carries out land boundary surveys and provides photogrammetric and aerial survey services. It maintains a geodetic survey network and the Satellite Positioning Reference Station Network System, which form the essential positioning infrastructure in Hong Kong for applications in mapping, construction, navigation, land use planning and scientific research. The office operates the Land Information System to maintain updated digital maps and databases containing land information and geospatial data. It also provides support to the Land Survey Authority to administer the Land Survey Ordinance, which governs the registration and conduct of authorised land surveyors and land boundary survey standards.

The office provides a web map service to the public through the internet and mobile applications, including free maps with integrated information on government facilities. It revamped the GeoInfo Map service in 2018 to provide a smooth browsing experience and support the delivery of cross-platform, up-to-date and real-time map services and geospatial data.

In August, the office launched the mobile-friendly Hong Kong Map Service 2.0 to provide a one-stop platform for the order and supply of map products and land survey records in printed and digital formats.

In December, the office launched the Hong Kong GeoData Store as the alpha-version portal of the Common Spatial Data Infrastructure initiative being taken forward under the bureau, to enhance the sharing and accessibility of geo-tagged information, thereby facilitating innovative and value-added reuse by application developers, the academia and the public.

Building Safety and Maintenance

Ensuring the safety of Hong Kong's ageing building stock is one of the bureau's key duties. It works with the Buildings Department and partner organisations to enhance building safety.

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