Aquat Villa Corality for the Merchant Princes.
All but property there is Land Br
Ans.77 12.3.77
no doubt with the
The Censor Rests Commission ward appointed to consider permissions the depressie. Stati of the Eastern part of the towns:
* fement poous ven given for investigating the grievance. j. preferred to them: Wat nobod from Hewstom made any Complaints, possibly from such being aware of the forms of the Commission, although Jerrun were invited to apply if they had anything to bring forward
Hostom has been in a poor state for years, and is likely to be a source of misery for many years; the petitioners ask for a longer tenure.
Usual terms are available; but I became aware that the Land Board can supply full particulars of the terms and of the reasons which led to its being adopted. The Image of the petition will then be judged upon those reasons, and upon the question whether they still apply.
Answer for 13/3.
Mr Walcott.
Request Mar 13
The petitioners (53 Europeans & about 30 Chinese) apply to have their present Garden lots leases of 14 years duration exchanged for Farm leases of 75 years, and they set forth 14 reasons in support of their application. These reasons may be summed up to the effect that a long lease is best for the tenant and the property, inasmuch as it encourages the tenant to expend money in improving the land, and in erecting comfortable dwelling houses and enables him to raise loans for those purposes.
The present garden lot system seems to have originated in 1873, when Gov. Kennedy reported that applications were from time to time made to him by residents for leases of garden lots at Kowloon, on which structures no more durable than meal sheds would be erected as summer residences. As no Crown Lands in Hongkong or Kowloon had previously been leased except after public auction and for periods of 999 years, and in the case of farm lots of 75 years, he asked for instructions as to the terms on which he might grant leases of garden lots, which while more favourable than squatters' licenses would be yet less stringent than those attached to the purchase of Crown Lands.
The Governor's despatch having been referred to this Board, Lord Kimberley informed Governor Kennedy that he had no objection to the grant of garden leases for 7 years, renewable once.