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It has been a striking testimony to the good sense of the people and to the good feeling existing between them and the Government that these resumptions have been put through without any disputes. In some cases in the country districts "fungshui" has been responsible for objections to the proposed route of the road or the railway: but it is characteristic of the Chinese folk that their superstitious fears have always yielded ultimately to the needs of a progressive age. More serious are the occasional objections of the more sophisticated residents in New Kowloon, who are beginning to look for means of making. money out of the Government needs and as they rapidly become more knowing these difficulties are likely to increase.
IV. PUBLIC WORKS.
22. After the taking over of the New Territories in April, 1899, the immediate exigencies of the Government were met by the construction of temporary matsheds for the use of the Police at Taipo, Au Tau, Sha Tin and Fu Ti Au, on the border between Chinese and British Territory.
23. Telephone lines were constructed connecting Kowloon City, Sha Tin, Tai Po, Fu Ti Au, Sheung Shui and Pingshan with Old Kowloon.
24. The road to Hunghom was continued to Kowloon City and that to Yaumati was carried on by the end of the year some two miles in the direction of Taipo.
25. The erection of permanent Police Stations was taken in hand: that at Taipo was completed in 1899, and those at Au Tau and Pingshan were finished in the following yea! (1900). The stations at Sai Kung and Sha Tau Kok were begun and nearly completed in 1900, which year also saw the total length of the Tai Po road carried to 11 miles
26. The need for more Police Stations was economically met by the adaptation of old Chinese Customs Stations to the purpose; and in this way further stations were soon ready at Kowloon City, Sham Shui Po, and the island of Cheung Chau; on Lantao Island the old Yamens were used for the purpose at Tai O and Tung Chung. At San Tin village a native house was converted into a Police Station and a blockhouse was prepared in the same way on the pass leading to Sha Tin,
27. In 1902, permanent stations were completed at Sheung Shui, and at Tai 0; and the same year saw the completion of the road to Tai Po,-18 miles in length.
28. Of the Police Stations thus available some such as Taipo, Sha Tau Kok, Sai Kung, Au Tau, Tai O and Pingshan were built on hillsides at a distance from Chinese habitations-- others such as Sheung Shui, Cheung Chau, Sham Shui Po, San Tin, Sha Tin, Tung Chung and Yung Shu Wan in or close to Chinese villages. It is worthy of remark in itself, and for guidance in future works, that the latter have always been healthy stations, and that four of the former six have been notably unhealthy at one time or another, Au Tau and Sai Kung being distinctly the worst. At Sai Kung during construction there was much sick- ness among the workmen-but it was not credited at the time that this would be due to the site; at Au Tau the neighbouring Chinese declared that the position was not good "Fung- shai' and it turned out that they were right. Pingshan and Tai O have been healthy stations, especially the former.
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29. The lessons to be drawn from this are that virgin soil has to be chosen with great discrimination for building purposes. But, failing this, it is preferable to use land which has long been cleared for building or cultivation.
30. Of the roads, that to Taipo was justified by administrative and military needs and was of great use in facilitating the import of cattle from across the border, and from the outskirts of the Territory. The extension to Kowloon City on the other side was necessary to bring Kowloon City and its populous neighbourhood into connection with Kowloon.
31. The programme of most necessary public works for the New Territories was now complete, but other works were carried out as opportunity offered. The Officers in charge of the Territories were housed in a matshed building until in 1906 a new and handsome building was completed on an island connected with Taipo by a causeway which forms a portion of the main road. The Land Office and its valuable records were also precariously housed in a matshed building until this was replaced by a solid structure completed in 1908.