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hands. They should, if they objected, have applied to the Land Officer, who would have examined into the matter and decided upon their objections. Under the powers given to me by the law I could have placed a station of Police upon that land and compelled the villagers who created the disturbance to pay the entire cost of building the station and paying the Police. But I have determined not to do so on this first offence but to warn the people through you that such illegal rioting will be severely punished in future. The elders of a village can always prevent such disorder by giving timely information to the Police. If they do not prevent it, then they and the villagers will be held responsible. All persons of whatever nation must be free to move about without danger of molestation. You must understand from what I have said that clan fights cannot be allowed. The law is strong enough to protect the rights of every man, and must be appealed to in cases of dispute that cannot be settled by the local committees. I am sorry to find that robberies by armed gangs have been frequent, and against such violence you have hitherto not been adequately protected. I have established Police Stations in different parts of the territory for the purpose of preventing such robberies and protecting your lives and property. Since the territory was taken over three months ago many of those robbers have been arrested, the stolen property has been restored to the owners, and a large number of the robbers are now in gaol undergoing sentences of imprisonment for five and seven years. I am determined that such robberies shall be put down and that law-abiding and peaceable people shall enjoy security that has hitherto been denied them. You have all heard of the cruel murders of innocent men that took place at Un Long in April last. For the murder of one of those men two of the principals in that brutal crime, after a fair and patient trial, have paid the penalty with their lives. I hope that if any bad characters remain in the territory they will take warning and cease from evil ways. I have directed that the law against gambling shall be rigidly enforced. The Chinese law against gambling is very strong, but the officials have neglected it. In British territory all laws must be equally respected. You have seen by iny proclamation the amount of Crown rent that has been decided upon as the land rent for the present. In considering what taxes are to be levied on you, you must remember that all the money paid by you to the Government is money that is paid for your protection and for the improvement and development of your property. The money paid for public works is paid to your own labourers for their labour and comes to the traders in the ordinary course of business. Up to the present over ten thousand dollars have been paid in wages to the working people of this district and now that gambling has been stopped this money will be spent in the purchase of land for farms or of food and clothing from the shops, while the main road from Kowloon to Táipó will enable the people to send in their produce to market in
any weather. There will be a license tax on all business houses but you have been relieved from the payment of all customs duties and monopolies that raised the price of everything that you consumed. Do not object to strangers coming to the district. They will all bring money and increase the wealth and comfort of the people. I know that many people from this district have travelled to other countries. They must have seen there how capital employs labour and produces wealth. With the introduction of fresh capital into this district that I hope to see one day some who are now driven to evil courses for want of occupation will find within their reach employment that will enable them to live respectable lives. I have appointed you to the responsible position of Committee-men because you have been recommended to me by your villagers. Do not forget that your responsibility is very real, as I look to you to preserve the peace and good order of your villages, and to report to the authorities all bad characters and persons who endeavour to stir up strife. With the support of the Sub-district Committees and the villagers I look for the firm establishment of internal peace and prosperity, and I undertake that you shall be fully protected by the Government from any