38
APPENDIX TO REPORT FROM THE LAND COMMISSION OF 1886-87.
22. That the Government scale of fees for squatters' licences be revised from time to time, and be brought up to the standard of modern values. At the present time the appraisals for land held under squatters licences, are based on prices fixed by the late Mr. CALDWELL quondam Registrar General. Land values quoted in the days of Sir JoHN DAVIS and Sir GEORGE BONHAM are no longer applicable. I am of opinion that the duty of appraising squattings from year to year might properly be left to the Surveyor General of the day. This duty devolves on him in the disposal by auction sale of leaseholds and in the valuations for Crown resumptions of Government allotments, and there is no reason there- fore why squattings, which are of less importance, should not be subjected equally to his periodical valuations. It is to be presumed that his prices would be fair and equitable. At present the scale of fees charged for squattings, while equitable in many of the poorer districts, is far too low in the richer. It is these almost nominal fees charged by Go- vernment which have been such a temptation to speculators to hire Government land under squatters' licence for the purpose of subletting it to others at great pecuniary advantage to themselves. Valuations for squattings should be made yearly or every two years in the same way as the valuations for municipal rates and taxes.
23. I am of opinion that the salary of a Land Bailiff would be more than amply recouped in increased squatters' fees and that the cost of such an appointment will not therefore be unproductive.
24. I recommend the transfer of the Squatters' Roll from the Registrar General's Office to the Treasury, because I understand the latter has greater facilities for collecting revenue, and because also it is not impossible the services of the
· Land Bailiff might be utilized by the Treasurer for other purposes of tax gathering and distraining.
25. I am credibly informed that the bays and waters of the Island are every year parcelled out among themselves, by the same sea squatters, who without anybody's leave stake out the most eligible fishing grounds for their own sole use and benefit. Nobody is allowed to encroach within the precincts of these stakes. As Hongkong waters should be opened to every body wishing to fish in them, I would submit the desirability of some enquiry into these sea-squattings, and if it turns out that they tend in any way to induce a monopoly of fishing in Hongkong, I think such monopoly tending to raise the price of food, should be discountenanced by Government.
26. I annex a return of the squatters in the Colony, both the permanent ones on the Registrar General's Roll and the twelve-monthly ones. It will be perceived that the aggregate revenues derived from these two sources amount only to $1,508, a sum totally inadequate, looking to the intrinsic value and extent of the areas occupied.
27. If His Excellency the Governor approves of the institution of a Squatters' Registry as recommended in para- graph 15, a Board of three or more Officers will have to be appointed to personally examine in detail every district of the Island, and every actual squatter's holding in every district and the area and extent of each holding, carefully registering the name of each holder, the area occupied, and the corresponding yearly fee to be paid to Government. The work of the Board will be most arduous and they should receive compensation for it. It will be desirable that one member of this Board should be the person who will receive the post of Land Bailiff.
I have, &c.,
(Signed),
J. M. PRICE,
Surveyor General.