The Lands Department manages properties which have reverted to government ownership through voluntary surrender, resumption, expiry of government leases, and re-entry or vesting actions under various ordinances. During the year, 37 new properties were taken over for management and 15 properties were disposed of, making a cumulative total of 465.

The department's investigation into the identity of those who are responsible for the maintenance of registered man-made slopes is an ongoing exercise carried out using the slope registration system maintained by the Geotechnical Engineering Office of the Civil Engineering and Development Department. The results of these investigations are contained in a Slope Maintenance Responsibility Information System which is published on the Lands Department website so that members of the public can find out who is responsible for the maintenance of any specific registered man-made slopes.

The Lands Department is responsible for maintaining about 17 500 man-made slopes. The Slope Maintenance Section of the Lands Department, with the assistance of private consultants, carries out regular inspections of these slopes and employs contractors to undertake routine maintenance works and, where required, stabilisation works. The works are prioritised according to the level of risk posed to life and properties in the event of landslides. During 2005, routine work was carried out on 6 600 slopes and stabilisation work on 131 slopes.

The Lands Department administers the Small House Policy for indigenous villagers in the New Territories. District Lands Offices grant indigenous villagers permission to build small houses and approve the rebuilding of old village houses. They also issue short-term tenancies, short-term waivers or government land licences for rebuilding temporary domestic structures. The department is also responsible for processing rent exemption requisitions for indigenous villagers' rural properties in accordance with the exemption criteria of the Government Rent (Assessment and Collection) Ordinance.

The Lands Department exercises its authority against illegal occupants of land under the Land (Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance and the Summary Offences Ordinance. The ordinances provide that it can take enforcement action — which includes the prosecution of offenders — against unauthorised occupation, excavation, cultivation or other forms of trespass on government land. The department also participates in joint efforts to hinder the spread of dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis by removing of vegetation and stagnant water on government land. During the year it carried out such work on 1 935 occasions. In addition, 885 warning letters were sent to government leaseholders, mainly to curb the unauthorised use of land or unauthorised breaches of lease conditions.

The Lands Department, in collaboration with the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department, continues to operate the scheme for the display of non-commercial publicity materials or banners at 21 877 designated spots in public places.