Issued by Government Information Services
Garden Road, 5th-8th Floors, Murray Building, Hong Kong. Tel: 2842 8777

Sunday, July 6, 1997



CONTENTS
========
1. Land Registry statistics released
2. Prisoners won awards in playscript contest



1. Land Registry statistics released
   *********************************

     The Land Registry (LR) today (Sunday) released land
registration statistics for the first six months of 1997.

     A total of 115,673 sale and purchase agreements of
building units, which include both residential and non-
residential properties, were received for registration by
the LR during the period.

     The figure represented an increase of 44.6 per cent and
71.5 per cent compared with the second half of 1996 and the
first half of 1996 respectively.

     The total amount of the considerations involved in
these agreements was $483.58 billion, which was up by 74.2
per cent and 145.3 per cent compared with the two preceding
half-yearly periods.

     During the first six months of 1997, 110,980
assignments of building units were lodged for registration,
compared with 81,265 and 78,255 respectively recorded during
the second half of 1996 and the first half of 1996, showing
an increase of 36.6 per cent and 41.8 per cent respectively.

     The total amount of the considerations involved,
amounting to $378.04 billion, indicated increases of 66.5
per cent and 103.9 per cent respectively when compared with
the two preceding half-yearly periods.

     The total amount secured under mortgages (other than
building mortgages) was $43.71 billion, showing an increase
of 28.4 per cent and six per cent compared with the second
half of 1996 and the first half of 1996 respectively.

     A table summarising the above figures and other related
statistics for the first half of 1997, together with the
corresponding statistics recorded in the second half of 1996
and the first half of 1996, was provided for comparison.

     Searches of land records by members of the public
during the first half of 1997 totalled 2,855,467, up by 22.8
per cent and 43.6 per cent compared with the second half of
1996 and the first half of 1996 respectively.

     Meanwhile, land registration statistics for the month
of June were also released.  In June, the Registry received
17,510 sale and purchase agreements for building units,
which include both residential and non-residential
properties.

     The figure represented a decrease of 11.4 per cent from
May 1997 but an increase of 58.4 per cent when compared with
June 1996.

     The total considerations of these agreements in June
was $81.4 billion, up 17.4 per cent and 134.1 per cent when
compared with the amounts for May 1997 and June 1996
respectively.

     Relevant statistics for May 1997 and June 1996 were
provided for comparison.  Figures on sale and purchase
agreements received for the past 12 months and the year-on-
year rate of change were also released.

     These statistics generally relate to land transactions
executed up to four weeks prior to their submission for
registration, as there is usually a time lag between the
execution of deeds and their lodgement for registration.

End


2. Prisoners won awards in playscript contest
   ******************************************

     Seven prisoners from the Shek Pik Prison, a maximum
security prison on Lantau, had won awards in a playscript
contest.

     The radio playscript contest is jointly organised by
the Education Department and two media organisations. Its
theme is "Respect our teachers and love our students".

     The piece of entry by the prisoners not only won the
award as an outstanding play in the group for participants
from Form 4-7 but also as the overall best playscript.

     "It featured a Form 4 student on the first day of
enrolment in a new school and his enlightenment arising from
encounter with the principal and teachers there," said a
senior master at Shek Pik Prison, who had given them
encouragement and supervision in the contest.

     He added the prisoners acted as students, teachers, the
principal and parents in the radio play featuring a 19-year-
old student who had been a drop-out from other schools.

     The contest based on the portrayed theme helps
participants arouse their interest of study and creativeness
as well as promote respect and develop understanding towards
their teachers and the society.

End

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