Development Bureau Submits Subsidiary Legislation on Land Searches, Requiring Specified Purposes or Public Interest and a Declaration

The Development Bureau has submitted 8 pieces of subsidiary legislation to the Legislative Council to complement the new land title registration system, restricting search arrangements under the existing Land Registration Ordinance and for future new land, with searches permitted only for specified purposes or where accepted as serving the public interest. Applicants citing public interest must submit a declaration stating that the information will be used only for the declared purpose, and false or misleading statements carry criminal liability. The new search arrangements are tentatively set to take effect in the first half of next year.