The Integrated Registration Information System (IRIS) entered its second year of operation towards the end of 2005/06, providing IT support for internal registration functions, as well as for the search of land registers and records through the IRIS Online Services over the Internet. In response to customer requests we increased the number of search orders per transaction for subscriber customers from 10 to 15 in September 2005, and to 20 in April 2006. We have also increased the maximum number of pages per instrument delivered by fax from 20 pages to 50 pages in September 2005.

In the coming year we plan to upgrade the IRIS infrastructure to increase the resilience of the system. We also aim to make the IRIS Online Services more user-friendly.

To increase public awareness of the IRIS Online Services, we have showcased the IRIS Online Services at public exhibitions; distributed an e-Government leaflet to over 2 million households in the third quarter of 2005 together with the demand notes for rates and government rent, and have advertised the IRIS Online Services in the local Chinese printed media between October 2005 and February 2006. As a result of the enhancements and promotion of IRIS Online Services, we had achieved a very satisfactory growth in business. The number of subscribers to the IRIS Online Services reached 555 in March 2006, an all time high since the launch of the online services. The proportion of searches conducted online grew to a record high of 85%. Search by ad hoc users by means of PPS and credit card also continued to grow, accounting for about 10% of all online searches as at March 2006.