Replies to Initial Questions Raised by Finance Committee Members in Examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2021
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Index Page Replies to initial written questions raised by Finance Committee Members in examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2021-22 Controlling Officer : Director of Lands Reply Serial Question Name of Member Head Programme No. Serial No. DEVB(PL)142 1935 CHAN Hak-kan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)143 3045 CHAN Hak-kan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)144 0950 CHAN Han-pan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)145 2736 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)146 2738 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)147 2739 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)148 2740 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)149 2747 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)150 2748 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)151 2751 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)152 2967 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)153 2996 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)154 2997 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)155 2998 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)156 2999 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)157 3000 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)158 3001 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)159 3005 CHAN Pierre 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)160 2244 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)161 2245 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)162 2900 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)163 2901 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)164 2905 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)165 2906 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)166 2907 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)167 2908 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)168 2909 CHENG Chung-tai 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)169 0823 HO Chun-yin, 91 (1) Land Administration Steven DEVB(PL)170 0843 HO Chun-yin, 91 (1) Land Administration Steven DEVB(PL)171 0877 HO Chun-yin, 91 (1) Land Administration Steven DEVB(PL)172 1344 LAM Kin-fung, 91 (1) Land Administration Jeffrey DEVB(PL)173 1197 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth DEVB(PL)174 1199 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth Reply Serial Question Name of Member Head Programme No. Serial No. DEVB(PL)175 1204 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth DEVB(PL)176 1206 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth DEVB(PL)177 1211 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth DEVB(PL)178 1213 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth DEVB(PL)179 1216 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (1) Land Administration Kenneth DEVB(PL)180 1218 LAU Ip-keung, 91 (2) Survey and Mapping Kenneth DEVB(PL)181 1548 LAU Kwok-fan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)182 1549 LAU Kwok-fan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)183 1551 LAU Kwok-fan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)184 2290 LAU Kwok-fan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)185 2291 LAU Kwok-fan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)186 2292 LAU Kwok-fan 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)187 1882 LEE Wai-king, 91 (1) Land Administration Starry DEVB(PL)188 0933 LEUNG Che-cheung 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)189 1601 LEUNG Che-cheung 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)190 1602 LEUNG Che-cheung 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)191 3203 LEUNG Che-cheung 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)192 2527 LEUNG Mei-fun, 91 (1) Land Administration Priscilla DEVB(PL)193 3133 MA Fung-kwok 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)194 2166 MAK Mei-kuen, 91 (1) Land Administration Alice DEVB(PL)195 2168 MAK Mei-kuen, 91 (1) Land Administration Alice DEVB(PL)196 0197 NG Wing-ka, Jimmy 91 (1) Land Administration DEVB(PL)197 2437 OR Chong-shing, 91 (1) Land Administration Wilson DEVB(PL)198 0141 SHEK Lai-him, 91 (1) Land Administration Abraham DEVB(PL)199 0142 SHEK Lai-him, 91 (1) Land Administration Abraham DEVB(PL)200 0077 TSE Wai-chuen, 91 (1) Land Administration Tony DEVB(PL)201 0079 TSE Wai-chuen, 91 (1) Land Administration Tony DEVB(PL)202 0148 TSE Wai-chuen, 91 (1) Land Administration Tony DEVB(PL)203 0640 YICK Chi-ming, 91 (1) Land Administration Frankie DEVB(PL)204 0641 YICK Chi-ming, 91 (1) Land Administration Frankie DEVB(PL)205 1440 YUNG Hoi-yan 91 (1) Land Administration Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2021-22 Reply Serial No. DEVB(PL)142 CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY (Question Serial No. 1935) Head: (91) Lands Department Subhead (No. & title): (-) Not Specified Programme: (1) Land Administration Controlling Officer: Director of Lands (Andrew LAI) Director of Bureau: Secretary for Development Question: Regarding rural small houses, will the Government please inform this Committee of the following: 1. The respective numbers of applications received, approved, under processing and rejected in the past three years, with a breakdown by District Council district in the New Territories; 2. The actual numbers of cases processed in 2019 and 2020 fell short of the target of 2 300 cases per year. What were the reasons for failing to reach the target? What is the department’s plan to reach the target and clear backlog cases this year? 3. How long do the processing procedures take on average? Please set out the average, longest and shortest processing time in the past three years by District Council district in the New Territories; 4. The respective areas of land available for rural small house applications in the past three years, with a breakdown by District Council district in the New Territories. Asked by: Hon CHAN Hak-kan (LegCo internal reference no.: 34) Reply: 1. The Lands Department (LandsD) does not have readily available statistics on the breakdown of small house applications by District Council district in the New Territories in the past three years. The breakdown of small house applications by the eight New Territories District Lands Offices (DLOs) is set out below: Session 16 DEVB(PL) - Page 371 Number of Number of Number of Number of small small house small house small house house applications DLO applications applications applications being processed received approved rejected (as at end of (2018 to 2020) (2018 to 2020) (2018 to 2020) December 2020) Islands 107 91 50 113 North 463 362 471 1 861 Sai Kung 294 100 37 402 Sha Tin 112 94 105 46 Tai Po 1 442 345 543 928 Tsuen Wan & 52 2 33 60 Kwai Tsing Tuen Mun 175 97 66 371 Yuen Long 1 694 582 1 157 3 332 Total 4 339 1 673 2 462 7 113 Note 1: As the processing of applications received in a year may not be completed in the same year, the applications approved, rejected and being processed in a year may not correspond with the applications received during the same year. 2. The number of small house cases processed in 2019 and 2020 were 2 265 and 2 137 respectively. These figures represented 98% and 93% of the original estimate which is 2 300. The number of cases processed each year may vary owing to a wide range of factors such as the complexity of the applications, the response of the applicant to LandsD’s enquiries or requests for information, whether local objections were received, etc. The performance in 2020 was undermined by the special work arrangements in combating COVID-19. LandsD will continue to expedite the processing of outstanding applications and review its work with a view to streamlining the procedures and shortening the time required. 3. LandsD does not compile statistics on processing time for small house applications. The processing time depends on the complexity of individual application, such as, whether there are local objections, land title or boundary problems, or whether there are requirements to be fulfilled in advance under other regulatory regimes. The prevailing performance pledge hence has stipulated that for straightforward small house applications, the processing may be completed within 24 weeks from the date of interview with the applicant. For non-straightforward cases, depending on the nature and complexity of the issues involved, the processing time will be longer. 4. LandsD does not compile statistics on the areas of land available for small house applications with a breakdown by District Council district in the New Territories. - End - Session 16 DEVB(PL) - Page 372 Examination of Estimates of Expenditure 2021-22 Reply Serial No. DEVB(PL)143 CONTROLLING OFFICER’S REPLY (Question Serial No. 3045) Head: (91) Lands Department Subhead (No. & title): (-) Not Specified Programme: (1) Land Administration Controlling Officer: Director of Lands (Andrew LAI) Director of Bureau: Secretary for Development Question: Regarding the 1 283 vacant sites managed by the department, please inform this committee of the following: 1. A breakdown by District Council district of the vacant site areas, average numbers of years of being left vacant, land uses under lease and the total estimated market rental of these vacant sites. 2. What are the department’s estimated expenditure and staff establishment for the management of these sites? 3. Does the department have any plans to make better use of these sites, such as allocating the land for short-term uses? If yes, what are the details? If no, what are the reasons? Asked by: Hon CHAN Hak-kan (LegCo internal reference no.: 35) Reply: 1. In 2020, the Lands Department (LandsD) managed 1 283 vacant sites on unleased government land. A breakdown of the number and area of these sites by District Lands Office (DLO) is provided below – Session 16 DEVB(PL) - Page 373 DLO No.