REVIEW
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bearing the same date as the Royal Charter and dealing with the land of the Colony, stated in part:
'And it is Our further Will and pleasure that no such lands shall be sold or let except at public auction; and that at every such auction, the lands to be then sold or let, be put up at a reserved, or minimum price equal to the fair reasonable price and value or annual rent thereof.
'And it is Our Will and pleasure and We do strictly enjoin and require you that you do not on any account, or on any pretence whatsoever, grant, convey or demise to any person or persons any lands required or reserved for a public purpose
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nor permit or suffer
any such lands to be occupied by any private person for any private purposes'.
In this way all land became Crown land. Article XIII of the Hong Kong Letters Patent 1917-1960, introduced in its present form in 1960, now regulates its disposal. This Article includes the stipulations that
'(1) The Governor, in Our name and on Our behalf, may make and execute grants and dispositions of any lands within the Colony that may be lawfully granted or disposed of by Us'; and
'(4) Grants and dispositions of land made under this Article shall be made in conformity with the provisions of such Instructions as may from time to time be given to the Governor under Our Royal Sign Manual and Signet or through a Secretary of State and such laws as may for the time being be in force in the Colony'.
This Article provides also that the powers conferred on the Governor may be exercised on his behalf by persons authorized by him and on such conditions as he may decide. He has so far delegated these powers to the holders of the offices of Director of Public Works, Superintendent of Crown Lands and Survey, District Commissioner, New Territories, Deputy District Commissioner, New Territories, Registrar General and Deputy Registrar General.
Royal Instructions relating to land are contained in Article XXXI, and are brief and to the point. They provide, first, that before disposing of vacant or waste land it shall be surveyed and