ENG-2019 — Page 249

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Planning, Land and Infrastructure

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 2019, it approved 565 applications to build small houses and 312 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 2019, it approved 30 applications for the sale of 14,137 units under construction and approved 45 Deeds of Mutual Covenant.

Land Acquisition

Private land may be acquired for public use through resumption under ordinances which provide for compensation for the property's value and the loss of business. If the payment. amount 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 2019, some 680,400 sq m of private land were acquired and $275.4 million compensation was paid for acquisitions supporting public works projects, $243.2 million compensation was paid to owners of 36 resumed properties affected by 16 urban renewal projects, and $35 million compensation was paid in acquisitions supporting railway projects.

Optimising Use of Vacant Government Sites under Short-term Tenancy

The bureau launched a funding scheme in February to support non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to carry out one-off, basic and essential restoration works on vacant government sites and school premises fit for community, institutional or other non-profit- making use. Such works may include slope upgrading, site formation, installation of temporary structures such as those using modular integrated construction methods, provision of sewerage and drainage access or pedestrian and vehicular access, renovation of dilapidated premises, and installation of fire safety equipment or barrier-free facilities. Costs incurred in relation to consultancy services commissioned to determine the technical feasibility or parameters of the proposed works may also be subsidised. During the year, seven NGOs were granted funding.

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 charges. More than three million land registers and 24 million land-related documents can be retrieved electronically. During the year, 486,753 land-related documents were lodged for

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