Intended Implementation of Five-day week for the Land Registry
This circular is issued to bring to your attention the intended implementation of a five-day week for all Land Registry offices from 1 July 2007. Law firms are asked to take particular note of the implications for lodgement of documents for registration.
2. Since 1 July 2006 a phased introduction of a five-day week is being extended throughout the civil service. The Land Registry offices will be involved in the final phase of that exercise.
3. To prepare for the implementation, on 9 March 2007 the Land Registration (Amendment) Regulation was gazetted and was laid before the Legislative Council on 14 March 2007. A copy is attached for reference. The main effects of the amendments will be:
| a) | Ending all services for receipt of documents for registration on Saturday mornings; and |
| b) | Ending all other services provided through Land Registry offices on Saturday mornings. |
4. All solicitors and solicitor's clerks are asked to take particular note of the ending of the Saturday service for receipt of documents for registration. Under S.5 of the Land Registration Ordinance, Cap.128, a document submitted for registration will take priority from the time of execution provided that it is registered within one month of the date of execution. The effect of there being no document lodgement service on Saturday mornings after 1 July 2007 is that, if the last day of the one month period falls on a Saturday then, in order to preserve priority, the document will need to be received at the Land Registry before 1:30 p.m. on the previous working day (similar to the present position if the final day of the one month period is a Sunday or Public Holiday).
5. All parties are asked to note that although the Land Registry offices will not be open to provide over the counter services on Saturday mornings, all search services for registers and documents will continue to be available seven days a week over the internet through our IRIS services.
6. The interactive Customer Service Hotline which allows a 24-hour access by callers will continue operation. At present, callers may choose to speak to an operator during office hours. From 1 July 2007, the operators' service hours will be extended by transferring all calls received after office hours to 1823 Citizen's Easy Link.
7. The Land Registration (Amendment) Regulation will be made after completion of all vetting procedures in the Legislative Council. Another Land Registry Circular Memorandum will be issued to confirm all arrangements.
8. For enquiries, please contact our Customer Service Manager, Ms. Allan Chan, at 3105 0000 or e-mail to us at csa@landreg.gov.hk.
(Kim Salkeld)
Land Registrar