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Appendix IV.
ENGLISH VERSION
OF
CHINESE PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY HIS EXCELLENCY
SIR HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G., GOVERNOR, &c.
I, Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, hereby inform you. the landowners in the New Territories, that an Officer will visit the sub-districts for the purpose of registering landowners on a date due notice of which will be given to you.
All you who can show that you have had possession of landed property for some time must fill up a schedule in the following form:--
1. Name of owner.
2. Nature of title.
3. Date of lease or grant (if any).
4. Number of years in occupation.
5. Description of land.
6. Dimensions of land.
7. Situation of land.
When these schedules are distributed to a village, any person who claims land as his property must fill up a schedule and bring it in person to the Visiting Officer, when he comes to the village in which such person resides; and the Officer will make an entry in the register that such person is the owner and will add such other particulars as may be necessary. A list of those who have been registered as landowners in the village and of their holdings will be posted in the village for seven days, and afterwards an extract of the entry of each holding will be made to be handed to the owner. But before it is handed to the owner he must pay the amount of Crown Rent fixed as due by him. If no Rent is paid, the land will be forfeited to the Government without fail.
If there is any unsettled dispute about property, the name of the person in actual possession will be registered, and he must pay the Crown Rent, but an extract of an entry in the Register will not be issued until the Squatters' Board has ascertained that the person in possession is the legal owner and the Board's decision has been approved by me. In that case an extract will be issued to him, and he will be permitted to remain in possession. But should the Board decide that the property is really not his property, the Crown Rent paid by him will be refunded, and the person who is adjudged by the Board to be the person who should pay the rent and who is approved as such by me, must forthwith pay the rent due. All you owners of land must report all the land in your possession. Should it be found at any time that any land owned by any person has not been reported, it will be treated as Government land. A survey will shortly be inade of the whole of the Leased Territory, so that the boundaries of the various holdings may be clearly known; and any cases of neglect to report on the part of owners of land will be easily discovered, and will involve forfeiture of the property to Government. Do not say that I have not warned you. The Crown Rent including all charges fixed for the present is given below. You must all without exception obey. Do not be disobedient. A special proclamation.
(i.) For land draining in a Southerly direction to the sea between Liümun Point on the East and the Pier in the bay West of Lai Chi Kok
on the West per half mau or portion thereof as follows:
(a.) For First class land 25 cents, or at the rate of $3.30 per
acre per annum.
(b.) For Second class land 20 cents,, or at the rate of $2.64
per acre per annum.
(c.) For Third class land 10 cents, or the rate of $1.32 per
acre per annum.