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Land Registry News

LR News No. 16

A Message from the Land Registrar

Why has capitalism triumphed in the West and failed everywhere else? This question is posed in the book 'The Mystery of Capital' by Hernando de Soto (a modern day Peruvian economist, not the Spanish Conquistador). The answer he gives is to point to the importance of legal representation of property through effective land registration. Without it, individual property owners cannot use their property to raise capital. He estimates that over US$7 trillion of potential capital is 'lost' in countries that lack legal representation of property.

Giving the opening address to the first World Land Registration Congress held in Brisbane last November, Mr de Soto expounded the need for countries to establish sound property rights and registration systems in order to underpin their economic and social development. His message was reinforced by Gershon Feder of the World Bank. Both commended the idea of establishing a body to promote understanding of land registration systems and help develop professional and institutional capabilities to run these systems.

The 65 delegates from 38 land registration jurisdictions who assembled for the congress have agreed to work to set up an International Land Registration Association. On behalf of the Hong Kong Land Registry I participated in the Congress and have been asked to chair one of the working groups for the new association, together with colleagues from China, the USA, Lithuania, Namibia and the State of Victoria, Australia.

This association provides an interesting new aspect of work and potential for educational exchange that will help strengthen the capacity of the Hong Kong Land Registry in future. But, my priority remains improving the service that the Land Registry gives to Hong Kong today.

We are just about to start the process of converting the over 3 million plans we hold into colour images that can be reproduced quickly for customers whenever required. The conversion work will be finished ahead of the commissioning of the first phase of the integrated registration information system (IRIS), for which the contract will be awarded shortly. IRIS will make all land registry information available to users through the internet. It will cut the time required for registration dramatically. It will give us great potential to further develop our services to the legal, banking and property sectors as well as to individual property owners and purchasers.

The Land Registrar at the first World Land Registration Congress in Brisbane

It also depends on all of us here at the Land Registry. Many hard words have been directed at the civil service of late but I know that those who work with me in this department strive to give service of outstanding quality and outstanding value to all our customers. Past achievements are well documented in our annual reports and customer satisfaction surveys. Each day we aim to do better yet, improving our service to Hong Kong's economy and community.

Realizing that potential depends on two pieces of legislation, the Land Registration Amendment Bill - which we expect to see enacted by the summer - and the Land Titles Bill which will be re-introduced into the Legislative Council in the Autumn.


K A Salkeld's signature

K A Salkeld, J.P.

The Land Registrar & General Manager
The Land Registry Trading Fund, Hong Kong



Update : Information Systems Strategic Plan Implementation

The selection of the tender for the development of the Integrated Registration Information System (IRIS) is in the final stage. The Evaluation Panel has thoroughly scrutinized the proposals to ascertain all tender requirements and specifications are met. Whilst the evaluation includes two separate components, namely technical assessment and price assessment, a heavier weighting factor is placed on the technical performance to ensure selection of the best solution. The evaluation is based on a set of criteria and marking scheme that covers various aspects including corporate and service delivery capability, IT solution for land registration, development service for the IRIS and IT support, maintenance and professional services. Moreover, by assessing the results of the system demonstration and benchmark test conducted in July and August 2001, the viability of the technical proposals has been verified critically. The evaluation results and recommendations of the panel will be detailed in a tender report to be submitted to the Central Tender Board for consideration and approval. It is expected that the whole procurement process will complete in early 2002 and system development will start immediately.



Update : Colour Imaging of Plans

The contract for the colour imaging of plan service was signed with Automated Systems (HK) Limited on 15 September 2001. Since then, both the contractor and the Land Registry are busy in preparing for the service delivery including carrying out a stock-take of all the existing plans, preparation of the conversion centre at Shatin, developing the conversion system, conducting system acceptance tests and training of staff for the new operation.

The new operation will start in March. Incoming plans will be scanned and stored electronically in colour and the existing plans will be converted into colour electronic images at the conversion centre. The target is to complete the conversion of all the existing plans, totaling over 3 million, within 9 months after commencement.

Customers will benefit from the colour imaging of the plan service as enhanced colour plan copies will be provided to them through direct retrieval of the colour electronic images and automatic printout by colour printers.



Legislation updates

Land Registration (Amendment) Bill

The Land Registration (Amendment) Bill was introduced into the Legislative Council on 17 January 2001. A Bills Committee was formed to study the Bill. Several issues are discussed in the Bills Committee Meetings.

Government hopes to finalize all the issues and to secure enactment of the Bill as early as possible.

Land Titles Bill

The Administration has now finalized the policy issues on the Land Titles Bill . A consultation paper has been issued to some key stakeholders for their comments. The Bill is now being redrafted. It is planned that the Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council in 2002.



2001/2002 Annual Staff Development Theme Training Workshops on "Change in Action : Sustaining a Learning Organization"

Over 370 members of staff participated in the training workshops on "Change in Action : Sustaining a Learning Organization" held during December 2001 - January 2002.

"Change in Action : Sustaining a Learning Organization" is the department's 2001/2002 Annual Staff Development Theme. The major objectives are: to tie in with the Government's direction for promoting a continuous learning culture in the civil service, to enhance the organizational learning capacity of the Registry to meet the new challenges of its Strategic Change Plan and to help building a 'Learning Organization' within the department.

To mark this important departmental event, the Land Registrar delivered his opening address at each workshop. With the active participation of all, the workshops proceeded smoothly and enjoyably. Participants are now working on "Learning Improvement Plans" as a post-training exercise which aims to help participants put their learning into practice at the workplace.

The Land Registrar addressing participants at a workshop


The Award for the Most e-Learned Department Contest 2001

To promote a learning culture in the civil service, the Civil Service Training and Development Institute (CSTDI) organised "The Most e-Learned Department Contest" to award bureaux and departments which displayed good effort in encouraging new Cyber Learning Centre (CLC) users during August to October 2001. With active participation and support of our staff, the Land Registry has the largest number of colleagues registered as CLC users and was awarded the Gold Prize of the Most e-Learned Department Contest 2001 (Group A-ureaux/ Departments with establishment of 1,500 officers or below).



Serving the Community Festival 2002

The Land Registry participated in the "Serving the Community Festival" organised by the Efficiency Unit during the fortnight from 20th January to 2nd February 2002. The theme of the Festival was "A Civil Service for Asia's World City", aiming to present a showcase of quality services provided by different government departments to the community, and to demonstrate the importance the Civil Service attaches to the provision of quality customer services.

In support of this worthwhile function, the Land Registry organised and participated in a series of activities during the fortnight including:

  • Carnival at the Tamar Site on 20 January 2002.
  • Open Days for our customers and members of the public to visit our search and registration offices at QGO, Central Imaging Centre at Shatin and Tsuen Wan NT Land Registry.
    The Land Registrar certifying the computerized land registers for the winners at the Carnival
  • Best Counter Staff Awards for our customers to nominate and select the best frontline counter staff for their outstanding services.
    A member of the Adjudicating Panel, Mr. Michael Chik and winners of the Best Counter Staff Awards
  • Quiz through our Homepage for the public to enhance their knowledge of our services, functions and objectives.
  • Customer Liaison Group Meeting on 1February 2002 with our private sector representatives to strengthen relations and present awards to our best counter staff.
  • Distribution of leaflets to publicise our services.


Land Registry Trading Fund Annual Report 2000/2001

The Land Registry released its Annual Report for 2000/2001 in October 2001. The report gives a detailed account of the various activities and achievements in the registry over the past year, including its service improvements and efforts in promoting a culture of continuous learning and livelong development. It also reports, in its change journey, the progress of the Strategic Change Plan and its necessary legislative amendment which would provide more cost-effective services to the public and bring the world's best practice to our customers. The report also consists of an audited financial statement with full account of the financial position of the Land Registry trading fund.



Sale of Street Index on Compact Disc (34th Edition)

The 34th edition of the Street Index is available for sale at the Central Search Office on 19/F., Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong. The price is HK$300 per set.

Since the 33rd edition, 727 amendments have been made, 14 new streets and 116 new lots, sections and subsections have been added to the Street Index data.

In support of a green environment, the User's Guide in paper form will no longer be issued. Instead, it has been incorporated in the compact disc. Instructions for reading the User's Guide can be found on the back cover of the compact disc.

An information leaflet and order form for the new Street Index are available at the Information Counter of Central Search Office, the search offices of the 8 New Territories Land Registries, the Land Registry's homepage (http://www.info.gov.hk/landreg/) or by telephone request to the Street Index Unit (Tel. 2867 2816).



Updating of Information Leaflets "The Land Registry" and "Strategic Change & IT Renewal"

The revised editions of two Information Leaflets "The Land Registry" and "Strategic Change & IT Renewal" were published in January 2002.

"The Land Registry" outlines the function of the Registry, the services it provides to the community, how it operates on registration of land documents, search of land records and registration of owners corporations. It also highlights the progress of efficiency improvement programmes currently underway.

The leaflet on "Strategic Change & IT Renewal" explains why we implement the Strategic Change Plan, how to implement the major changes and what benefits it will bring to our customers. Full implementation of the Plan will simplify registration procedures, reduce conveyancing times and increase availability of search services.

If you wish to obtain a copy of the leaflets, please contact our Customer Service Manager at telephone no. 3105 0000. The leaflets are also available for downloading at our website http://www.info.gov.hk/landreg/.