Table of Contents
Preface to the Fifth Edition vii
Preface to the First Edition ix
Introduction xi
Section I Historical Development of Land Administration
1 The First Land Sales, 1841-1842 3
2 The Early Years, 1843-1898 9
3 1898 Onwards: The New Territories Lease 16
4 The Sino-British Joint Declaration 1984 and the Basic Law 1990 26
5 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government 36
Section II Present-Day Land Administration
6 Economic Background, Land Needs, and Reclamations 49
7 Lands Department Functions under Administrative Law 58
8 Land Exchange and Lease Modifications 74
9 Development Control in Older Lease Conditions 84
10 Access Arrangements and Rights-of-Way 94
11 Town Planning Controls and Development Restrictions in Lease Conditions 97
12 Land Management and Lease Enforcement 108
Section III Land Administration Problems and Practice Associated with the New Territories
13 Land Exchange Entitlements (Also Known as Letters A/B) 123
14 Small House () Policy and the 300-Foot Rule 129
15 Limitations Ordinance, Adverse Possession, and the Principle of Encroachment 139
16 Tsos () and Tongs () and Their Impact on Land Assembly 144
17 Succession 147
18 Fung Shut () and Graves 149
19 Boundary Disputes, Missing Lots, Missing Documents, and Secondary Evidence 152
Section IV Future Developments in Land Administration
20 How Planning and Land Policy Could Be Used to Enhance Conservation in Hong Kong 159
21 The Land Titles Ordinance 2004 170
Appendices 177
Glossary 211
Bibliography 214
Index 217
