The Lands Department will create new posts to enhance the effectiveness of land control work. They include 26 Land Executive grade officers, plus 42 Estate Surveyors, Survey Officers (Estate) and Land Inspectors.

The total number of new posts will depend on operational need.

The number of new Land Executive grade posts is equivalent to about 8% of the grade's current establishment.

Since the department took over the Housing Department squatter control team in April last year, it proposed redeploying staff resources to set up a Central Action Team. As the proposal involved the restructuring of four different grades, the department's management consulted the four staff unions on their views. However, divergent views were received and the department decided to continue dialogue with staff unions.

Staff consultation is being conducted on having Lands Department grade staff taking over squatter control work gradually from the Housing Department, and on the review on work structure and the possibility of reorganisation. The next round of discussions will be held by month's-end.