APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE LAND COMMISSION OF 1886-87.
78. Should the inquiry be conducted under the authority of a Crown Land Board or of Commissioners to be specially appointed for the purpose, with an appeal on questions of law to the Supreme Court or under a Laud Court to be appointed for the purpose?
79. Supposing new Leases to be granted is it desirable in future to recognize possessory Titles without documentary evidence of record in the Land Registry?
80. Would the provisions of the last Registration Act in England "The Yorkshire Registration Act, 1884," 47 and 48 Vic. c. 54 meet the present requirements as to Land Registry?
81. Would it be advisable to introduce the Australian system of Land Registry in cases where it was so desired, and would such a system of registration be likely to be taken advantage of to any extent ?
82. Would it be advisable to simplify the Crown Leases by Ordinance so as to make it necessary only to describe the parties and the land?
83. Is there any objection to an Ordinance simplifying Assignments, Mortgages, and Underleases?
84. Would it be advisable to register Memorials only, or would it be better to preserve a copy of all original documents
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in the Land Registry? Or is it advisable to give the party registering an option in the matter?
85. Is the present system of granting Leases suitable to the circumstances of the Colony or is it desirable to convert
leaseholds into freeholds ?
86. If the Leasehold system is to continue how should property bequeathed by Will be registered? Also in cases of intestacy where Leasehold property is not required by the Administrator for payment of debts?
87. In future sales of Crown Land is there any reason why Crown Rent beyoud a nominal sum should be charged, or is it advisable that the value of the Crown Rent should be considered in the upset price?
88. Is it advisable that the purchase money should be charged in a lump sum, or would it be any convenience to pur- chasers if the amount of purchase money with interest was distributed over a number of years, or at least until after build- ings were erected.
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89. At present no one knows who are the Crown Tenants. A list is made out by the Registrar of owners of Crown Leases of Inland and Marine Lots, Farm, Rural Building, and Garden Lots, and by the Registrar General of holders of Squatters licences, and furnished to the Treasurer. The rents are collected by the Treasurer who receives the amount from any one who chooses to pay. Does this practice leave any opening for fraud on the Government?
90. Are the amounts punctually collected or are there generally large arrears?
91. Is it desirable for the assessment of rates and taxes to be made by a Crown Land Board?.
92. Should appeals be made in the first instance to the Crown Land Board?
93. Is it desirable that Crown Rents and Rates should be collected by the Board or its Officers so as to bring them more directly in contact with the Tenants ?
94. As to overcrowding. Can any measures in your opinion be adpoted by Government to prevent the overcrowding in certain districts in the city?
95. What Government Buildings are there in the City and can any be advantageously removed to places less required by the business portion of the community?
96. What land is occupied by the Naval and Milltary Authorities in the City and could any inducements be offered to them to remove their establishments or any portion of them to places outside the City limits ?
97. Is any land elsewhere available and if so where?
98. Supposing the authorities were willing to remove, would the land now occupied by them be likely to be taken up by the Community for building purposes?
99. Would the Hongkong Government be likely to obtain sufficient from the sales to justify the offering to build now Barracks and Officers Quarters in a less populous locality?
100. If the land were generally taken up for building purposes, would the Hongkong Government be in a position out of the rates to pay a larger amount of subsidy for military purposes?
101. Would the making of tramways to Shau-ki-wán and Aberdeen have any effect in removing any of the people from the crowded districts to other localities, and could Government grant any facilities for construction?
102. Could any of the junk trade be removed to the harbours on the South side of the Island?
103. Could any greater facilities be given for settlement at Kowloon?
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104. What effect would the completion of the Praya between the Eastern and Western portions of the City be likely to have? Is it an undertaking that should be commenced at once?
105. Is there any portion of the sea shore in the Colony whero reclamations are desirable?