The Land Registry today (February 2) released its statistics for January 2024.

Land registration
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* The number of sale and purchase agreements for all building units received for registration in January was 4 401 (+16.9 per cent compared with December 2023 but -0.6 per cent compared with January 2023)

* The 12-month moving average for January was 4 834 (0.04 per cent below the 12-month moving average for December 2023 and 0.2 per cent below that for January 2023)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements of building units in January was $33.7 billion (+0.3 per cent compared with December 2023 and +3.6 per cent compared with January 2023)

* Among the sale and purchase agreements, 3 477 were for residential units (+18.7 per cent compared with December 2023 and +14.0 per cent compared with January 2023)

* The total consideration for sale and purchase agreements in respect of residential units was $27.8 billion (+14.3 per cent compared with December 2023 and +9.3 per cent compared with January 2023)

     Statistics on sales of residential units do not include sale and purchase agreements relating to sales of units under the Home Ownership Scheme, the Private Sector Participation Scheme, the Tenants Purchase Scheme, etc, unless the premium of the unit concerned has been paid after the sale restriction period.

     Figures on sale and purchase agreements received for the past 12 months, the year-on-year rate of change and breakdown figures on residential sales have also been released.

     As deeds may not be lodged with the Land Registry until up to 30 days after the transaction, these statistics generally relate to land transactions in the previous month.

Land search
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* The number of searches of land registers made by the public in January was 372 718 (+27.1 per cent compared with December 2023 and +16.0 per cent compared with January 2023)

     The statistics cover searches made at the counter, through the self-service terminals and via the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services.
 

     Ho Land International Limited was prosecuted by the Labour Department (LD) for violation of the Employment Ordinance (EO). The company pleaded guilty at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts today (February 2) and was fined $52,000.
      
     The company failed to pay four employees, in accordance with the requirements of the EO, wages totalling about $234,000 within seven days after the expiry of the wage periods and termination of their employment contracts, as well as the awarded sums of about $520,000 within 14 days after the date set by the Labour Tribunal (LT).
          
     "The ruling will disseminate a strong message to all employers that they have to pay wages to employees within the statutory time limit stipulated in the EO, as well as the sums awarded by the LT or the Minor Employment Claims Adjudication Board," a spokesman for the LD said.

     â€‹"The LD will not tolerate these offences and will spare no effort in enforcing the law and safeguarding employees' statutory rights," the spokesman added.

     The Transport Department (TD) today (February 2) announced that the auction of traditional vehicle registration marks will be held on February 24 (Saturday) in Meeting Room N101, L1, New Wing, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai.

     "A total of 350 vehicle registration marks will be put up for public auction. The list of marks has been uploaded to the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/index.html," a department spokesman said.

     Applicants who have paid a deposit of $1,000 to reserve a mark for auction should also participate in the bidding (including the first bid at the reserve price of $1,000). Otherwise, the mark concerned may be sold to another bidder at the reserve price.

     People who wish to participate in the bidding at the auction should take note of the following important points:

(1) Successful bidders are required to produce the following documents for completion of registration and payment procedures immediately after the successful bidding:
(i) the identity document of the successful bidder;
(ii) the identity document of the purchaser if it is different from the successful bidder;
(iii) a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation if the purchaser is a body corporate; and
(iv) a crossed cheque made payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region" or "The Government of the HKSAR". (For an auctioned mark paid for by cheque, the first three working days after the date of auction will be required for cheque clearance confirmation before processing of the application for mark assignment can be completed.) Successful bidders can also pay through the Easy Pay System (EPS). Payment by post-dated cheques, cash or other methods will not be accepted.

(2) Purchasers must make payment of the purchase price through EPS or by crossed cheque and complete the Memorandum of Sale of Registration Mark immediately after the bidding. Subsequent alteration of the particulars in the memorandum will not be permitted.

(3) A vehicle registration mark can only be assigned to a motor vehicle which is registered in the name of the purchaser. The Certificate of Incorporation must be produced immediately by the purchaser if a vehicle registration mark purchased is to be registered under the name of a body corporate.

(4) Special registration marks are non-transferable. Where the ownership of a motor vehicle with a special registration mark is transferred, the allocation of the special registration mark shall be cancelled.

(5) The purchaser shall, within 12 months after the date of auction, apply to the Commissioner for Transport for the registration mark to be assigned to a motor vehicle registered in the name of the purchaser. If the purchaser fails to assign the registration mark within 12 months, allocation of the mark will be cancelled and arranged for re-allocation in accordance with the statutory provision without prior notice to the purchaser.

     For other auction details, please refer to the Guidance Notes – Auction of Traditional Vehicle Registration Marks, which can be downloaded from the department's website, www.td.gov.hk/en/public_services/vehicle_registration_mark/tvrm_auction/index.html.

     Police will implement crowd safety management measures and special traffic arrangements at Mong Kok Flower Market Road area from February 3 (Saturday) to February 10 (Saturday) to ensure smooth traffic flow and public safety.

A. Crowd safety management measures

      A large number of people is expected to visit the Flower Market area before the Lunar New Year. Depending on actual crowd condition, the Police will implement crowd management measures in the area including Flower Market Road, Yuen Ngai Street, Yuen Po Street and the adjacent Prince Edward Road West Service Road, Sai Yee Street, Fa Yuen Street and Playing Field Road. Members of the public are advised to exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

B. Road closure and traffic diversions
 
     The following roads will be closed from 8am on February 3 to 8am on February 10, except for vehicles with permit:
 
– Flower Market Road;
– Yuen Ngai Street;
– Yuen Po Street; and
– Prince Edward Road West Service Road between Sai Yee Street and Yuen Po Street.
 
    Vehicles with valid permit can access the above roads daily from 00.01am to 5pm.
 
   During the above road closure period, traffic along westbound Prince Edward Road West cannot turn right to Sai Yee Street. Affected vehicles will be diverted via westbound Prince Edward Road West, Tung Choi Street, Playing Field Road/Boundary Street, Fa Yuen Street, Prince Edward Road West Service Road and Sai Yee Street. Moreover, traffic along westbound Prince Edward Road West near Nathan Road cannot make U-turn to Prince Edward Road West Service Road.

     Depending on the traffic and crowd conditions, the following roads may be closed from 8am on February 3 to 8am on February 10:

– Sai Yee Street between Prince Edward Road West Service Road and Boundary Street;
– Fa Yuen Street between Prince Edward Road West Service Road and Boundary Street;
– Playing Field Road between Tung Choi Street and Sai Yee Street; and
– Prince Edward Road West Service Road between Nathan Road and Sai Yee Street.

C. Suspension of parking spaces
 
     The parking spaces on the following roads will be suspended from 8am on February 3 to 8am on February 10:
 
– The metered parking spaces on Fa Yuen Street between Prince Edward Road West Service Road and Boundary Street;
– The metered parking spaces on Tung Choi Street between Prince Edward Road West Service Road and Boundary Street;
– The metered parking spaces on Playing Field Road between Tung Choi Street and Sai Yee Street;
– The motorcycle parking spaces on Tung Choi Street near Playing Field Road;
– The motorcycle parking spaces on Playing Field Road between Fa Yuen Street and Tung Choi Street; and
– The motorcycle parking spaces under Prince Edward Road West flyover between Tung Choi Street and Sai Yee Street.

     The parking spaces on the following roads will be suspended from 8am on February 9 to 8am on February 10:

– The disabled parking spaces on Fa Yuen Street near Boundary Street; and
– The disabled parking spaces on Playing Field Road near Tung Choi Street.

         All vehicles parked illegally during the implementation of the above special traffic arrangements will be towed away without prior warning, and may be subject to multiple ticketing.  

     Depending on actual traffic and crowd conditions in the areas, appropriate traffic arrangements and crowd safety management measures will be implemented. Members of the public are advised to use public transport to go to the above areas and exercise tolerance and patience and take heed of instructions of the Police on site.

     The Government gazetted today (February 2) the proposed construction of a pedestrian walkway between the New Yau Ma Tei Public Cargo Working Area and Hoi Po Road, linking the West Kowloon Cultural District and Tai Kok Tsui, to provide the necessary infrastructure for the development of the West Kowloon Cultural District.

     Details of the proposal are set out in the Annex. The plans and scheme of the works are available for public inspection at the following government offices during office hours:
 
Central and Western Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Harbour Building,
38 Pier Road, Central, Hong Kong

Yau Tsim Mong Home Affairs Enquiry Centre,
G/F, Mong Kok Government Offices,
30 Luen Wan Street,
Mong Kok, Kowloon
 
District Lands Office, Kowloon West,
4/F, South Tower,
West Kowloon Government Offices
11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon
 
     The gazette notice, scheme, plans and location plan are available at www.tlb.gov.hk/eng/publications/transport/gazette/gazette.html.
 
     Any person who wishes to object to the works or the use, or both, is required to address to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics an objection in writing, which can be submitted via the following means:
 

• By post or by hand to the Transport and Logistics Bureau's Drop-in Box No. 6 located at the entrance on 2/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong. The box is available for use between 8am and 7pm from Monday to Friday (except public holidays);
• By fax to 2868 4643; or
• By email to gazettetlb@tlb.gov.hk.

 
     A notice of objection should describe the objector's interest and the manner in which he or she alleges that he or she will be affected by the works or the use. Objectors are requested to provide contact details to facilitate communication. A notice of objection should be delivered to the Secretary for Transport and Logistics not later than April 2, 2024.