I REFER to your readers' letters headlined, 'Puzzled by need for a Land Titles Bill' and 'Illogical' (South China Morning Post, May 30 and June 1, respectively).
It was suggested that there is little public demand for a land title registration system in Hong Kong. This is probably because the general public are usually not concerned with land registration matters but rely mainly on solicitors to deal with land transactions.
A land title registration system will offer greater certainty of title, simplified conveyancing procedures and statutory protection to property owners and purchasers.
Under the present land deeds registration system, deeds and other documents relating to property transactions are submitted to the Land Registry for registration. These documents are registered in a land register which the Land Registry maintains for each property.
This system of registration only confers priority on registered deeds according to their respective dates of registration.
It does not confer on a deed any validity it does not otherwise have.
The existing system provides a means whereby title to property may be traced.