539
7. Squatters' Licences.-The number of squatters' licences on the roll at the beginning of the year was 272 representing an annual rental of $872.70. During the year, 28 were written off and an effort is now being made to settle the claims of all squatters. Surveys are being prepared for that purpose.
8. Military Lands.-The negotiations between the Colonial Government and the Military Authorities for exchanges of land have now been practically brought to a con- clusion, the only matters requiring settlement being the boundaries and areas of the various plots, for which surveys are required.
Colonel LEWIS who came out from England to settle the matter, compiled a report on all the Military holdings and made recommendations as to settlement which were eventually agreed upon by both parties. The Military Authorities are now preparing plans of all lands held by them and defining the areas by boundary stones in order that they may be checked by the Colonial Government.
9. Naval Lands.-There is nothing to record under this heading beyond the fact that the texed question of the boundary between the Naval and Military property and the pro- posed Praya East Reclamation was settled.
10. Piers-The right of erecting piers under long leases was granted in 3 cases in Hongkong and in 3 in Kowloon whilst extensions of two piers formerly sanctioned-one in Hongkong and one in Kowloon-were also granted. The premia derived from the above in Hongkong amounted to $58,375 and in Kowloon $1,583 while the annual rentals were $3,780 and $480 respectively. Licences for the following temporary piers for various periods were issued:-18 in Hongkong, 14 in Kowloon, and 19 in the New Territory, the amount of fees payable for these being $5,335.
11. New Territory.-Matters in the New Territory have absorbed a large part of the time of the Survey staff during the year. It was considered desirable to define the Anglo- Chinese Boundary between Sha Tau Kok and Lin Ma Hang and this was done, permanent boundary stones of a substantial character being established and surveyed. Certain areas of padi land which had been omitted in the original Survey were picked up and mapped and all the quarries between Kowloon City and Lyemun Pass were surveyed and marked with boundary stones.
The prints of Mr. NEWLAND'S 2" map were received from England and have proved most useful.
WORK UNDER THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE.
12. As the result of a more extended acquaintance with the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance of 1903, the plans submitted by Architects have been generally in accordance with its provisions, but applications for a modification of one or more of these are very numerous and, as nearly all such applications have to be referred to the Sanitary Board as well as to the Governor in Council, the carrying out of the new Ordinance involves a great deal more work than the old,
13. Plans. Plans were deposited during the year for the following, the figures for 1904 being given in a parallel column for purposes of comparison :-
1904.
1905. Increase. Decrease.
European houses,
56
35
21
Chinese houses,
156
164
8
Buildings and structures other than the above,.
195
150
45
Alterations and additions to existing buildings,
1,468
1,744
276
Verandahs,
42
43
1
Balconies,
35
73
38
Sunshades,
34
11
7
Areas,
3
1
Piers,
6
3
Total,....
1,997
2,259
331
-69