Land search, current: Hong Kong

A current land search returns the current particulars of a property from the Land Registry's land register, through its Integrated Registration Information System. Each register records the memorials of the instruments registered against one property since the government lease was granted. The current search shows the property's description and lot, the registered owner and the instrument by which the owner took title, and the incumbrances still in force: mortgages and legal charges, building orders, court orders, lis pendens and other registered deeds, each with its memorial number, date of registration and the parties.

Lenders order it before a mortgage, to see who owns the property and what is already charged on it. Banks and wealth managers order it as evidence of a customer's address or assets. Conveyancers, insolvency practitioners and litigators order it to confirm ownership before a transaction or a claim. A company's registered office can also be searched to see whether the company owns its premises.

Send the full address, with the floor and flat where it is a unit, or the lot number. The register comes back as a PDF in the same thread, or through the API. Where a document on the register is needed, a copy of the memorial and the deed can be ordered separately.