REAL ESTATE
We have one of the largest real estate practices in Hong Kong with more than 10 lawyers specializing in various aspects of conveyancing and land related matters and over 50 staff, most with 10 years or more experience in property transactions, to give solid support. We were one of the pioneering law firms in Hong Kong to set up branch offices in the New Territories in the late 1970's in order to bring legal services, in particular real estate services, to the local communities.

We also took advantage of the latest computer technology and have developed software programmes for our real estate services so that they can be delivered in a more efficient and cost effective manner, without compromising our standards.

We have served major real estate developers in Hong Kong and are on the panel list of law firms of the MTR Corporation Limited for property and land related matters.

Recent major projects handled by us include the "Waterfront" and "Sorrento" on top of Kowloon Station, “Habour Green” on top of Olympic Station, “No. 8 Clear Water Road”, a Park and Ride development adjacent to Choi Hung MTR station, “Banyan Garden” in Cheung Sha Wan and the Wu Kai Sha Project at Wu Kai Sha Station, MOS Rail‘s Terminal as well as a number of projects launched for sale by the Housing Authority. We frequently advise and assist clients in assembling parcels of land for large scale development and are currently involved in the Yau Tong Bay development.

 

 

Project
There are two main divisions in our Real Estate Department : Project and General Conveyancing.

The Commercial Project Division deals with large scale real estate and infra-structural developments which have intriguing and complex land or property related issues.

Work covers :

acquiring large parcels of agricultural land and surrendering them to the Government for re-grant;

objecting to re-zoning impositions;

making planning applications under Section 16 of the Town Planning Ordinance;

appealing against the decisions of the Town Planning Board;

negotiating the terms of land grants and applying to various Government departments to vary or modify the terms of the land grants;

advising clients on the various ways to finance a development or infra-structural project;

preparing or approving Deed of Surrender, Deed of Dedication and other land title documents affecting land rights of the parties;

negotiating and preparing joint redevelopment agreements among different land owners;

advising and negotiating on behalf of developers in acquiring adjacent parcels of land for re-development by consent or under the Land (Compulsory Sale for Redevelopment) Ordinance;

preparing or approving Master Deed of Mutual Covenant affecting various plots of land;

preparing or approving Deed of Mutual Covenant of individual building;

applying to the Government for consent to sell uncompleted units of a development and preparing statutory declaration and supporting documents for such sale.

 

 

General Conveyancing
The General Conveyancing Division deals with day to day conveyancing transactions as well as sale and mortgage of large number of units under various Housing Schemes.

Work covers :

attending to the sale/purchase, and mortgage of units of a development;

preparing and attending to documentation for PSPS projects;

attending to the sale/purchase and mortgage of units under the "Home Starter Loan Scheme", "Flat for Sale Scheme" and "Sandwich Class Housing Scheme" of the Hong Kong Housing Society;

attending to the sale/purchase and mortgage of units of the "Home Ownership Scheme" , "Home Purchase Loan Scheme" and the "Tenants Purchase Scheme" of the Hong Kong Housing Authority;

designing and preparing documentation for staff housing scheme for public companies and utility and transportation companies.

 

 

The New Territories Practice
Our New Territories Practice coincided with the massive urbanization development in the New Territories in the late 1970's and early 80's.

Work covers :

land resumption compensation claims;

sale and purchase and mortgage of Letter A and Letter B and other land entitlement rights;

disposition of land and interests in land held by T'so or T'ong;

exercising of the powers under the New Territories Ordinance, in particular, applications under Section 15 and Section 18 of the New Territories Ordinance;

village type house development;

dealing with land registered under Wong Wai Tsak Tong in Cheung Chau.

 

 

Special Projects

we have devised a scheme which was later adopted by the Government as "the Modification of Lease Approach" which has since been applied to solve the ownership and re-development problems affecting the Civil Servants' Co-operative Societies in Hong Kong.

we have advised the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in its successful negotiation with the Disney Group on the land grant, construction and management of a theme park in Lantau Island.

we have advised the Housing Authority in its transfer of title of shopping malls and car parking facilities to “LINK”, a REIT listing vehicle in Hong Kong.

 

 

CHINA REAL ESTATE PROJECTS
In May 1990, China first introduced the leasehold concept to its land system, thereby ushering in a spate of real estate development activities in China. By mid-90’s We had handled over 150 real estate projects across 25 main cities in China.

In handling these projects, we not only advised developers of the documentation and marketing requirements but also liaised with the relevant government departments in China and worked with local PRC lawyers to obtain the necessary approval for sale of the project units in Hong Kong.

We also advised Hong Kong and PRC banking and financial institutions in financing the construction of the projects and mortgage of individual units when they were launched for sale in Hong Kong.

After completing the purchase of the project units, we advised and acted for individual owners in their subsequent leasing or re-sale of their units across major cities in China.

In advising developers or individual owners of units, we worked closely with PRC lawyers in relevant cities to ensure that clients' interests were and are properly looked after in China.

 

 

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