I want to share with you the latest development of the land boundary survey system in Hong Kong. Legislative Council’s Panel on Development and Panel on Administration of Justice and Legal Services conducted the 7th Joint Subcommittee Meeting to discuss the amendment to Land Title Ordinance (Cap 585) on 29 April 2010. Dr Conrad Tang of LSD and Mr Tony Wan of GPD represented the HKIS to attend the Panel Meeting. Other participants of the meeting were (Legco Members) Margret Ng, Ho Chun Yan, Eu Yuet Mee and Lau Sau Shing, Officials from the Development Bureau, Land Registry and the Lands Department, Representatives from the Estate Agents Authority, the Law Society of Hong Kong and Heung Yee Kuk New Territories. The HKIS presented the view on the provisions on Determination of Land Boundaries and the consequential amendment to Land Survey Ordinance (Cap 473). Summary of the HKIS views are: The HKIS supports moving Section 94 of LTO to LSO with suitable amendment. Such amendment will allow determination of land boundaries for identification of the extent of land parcels with certainty. The benefits: Protect rights and interests of land owners, Enable effective land administration and Support efficient land market. The system of determination of land boundaries under LSO shall include the following features: 1. Determination of land boundaries shall be applied to all land in Hong Kong. 2. The new plans resulting from determination of land boundaries are to be treated as prima facie evidence for ascertaining the extent of the land parcels on ground as described in the lease. 3. A land boundary records system shall be established and maintained by the Land Survey Authority. 4. The land boundary records shall be made available to the public. 5. The land boundary plans shall be checked before submission for registration. (Please refer to p. 5 for the full report) You may assess the papers of the Panel Meeting through the following websites:- (i) The Administration's paper: Joint Subcommittee on Amendments to Land Titles Ordinance - Amendments to Land Titles Ordinance http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr09-10/english/panels/lto/ papers/lto0429cb1-1715-1-e.pdf (ii) HKIS's papers: a. Views from the Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors on Determination of Land Boundaries http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr09-10/english/panels/lto/papers/lto0429cb1-1737-1-e.pdf b . Consequential Amendment to Land Survey Ordinance (L S O) – Determination of Land Boundaries http://www.legco.gov.hk/yr09-10/english/panels/ lto/papers/lto0429cb1-1789-1-e.pdf