In October 1841, the Government required the applications for land should be made in person to the Land Officer. The principle of land registration was then established by a Government Notification dated 2 May 1842 signed by G F Mylius, Land Officer, that announced "any sales that may have been made, or may be made in future, unless registered in the Land Office, shall be held to be invalid.". The Land Registration Ordinance was passed on 28 February 1844 and is one of the oldest ordinances still in force in Hong Kong.
