[Lu C.8.0. 1775.]
(Translation.)
The petition of CHENG SING-YEUNG, having reference to his purchase of Lot No. 8, from the Gibb Hong. As the Gibb Hong had over 30 years ago built on a piece of Crown land about three feet wide, and up to the present time not a word has been said about it, therefore, your Petitioner, having now purchased it, should by right have possession of the property as heretofore. But if your Petitioner is required to pay Crown rent for it (the small strip of ground), he is willing to obey instructions, but would beg His Excellency the Governor to show his kindness and not to demand any premium for the ground. Your Petitioner as in duty bound will ever pray.
Dated the 14th day of the 6th moon in the 6th Year of Kwong-sui (20th July 1880).
(Signed) CHENG SING-YEUNG.
To the Honourable
THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.
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一千八百八十年
楊該價若干此批
間知現在售與鄭星
欲問知該地沽賣與人原值幾何又欲
政司察極照其意見若何然後申覆并
故將該案照送件律
七月二十六日
覆申司務工
遵查該内地第八號之地段國家於一千八百四十一年時發給與人未嘗擬遵查該
段及其所有之地兩段即第一號地段
與價多
本純按年地
每
號即刧稅年地第先銀
生七
號將百地
鄭則至第地該七
星非該
段地十銀機
覆申司政律
一千八百八十年七月二十七日
之案可照
遵查如此
週憲必
知報須嗣伸刊
此後衆諸
司計徵一
籍以上所言定價或照
督憲有權
凡有如此
堂則欲定
案件本部
然
楊自行斟酌者謹此申覆覆卑職所能言以該事乃刧先生與鄭星申楊出地價銀二十四萬大圓多至該項內若干員篇第八號地段之價則非
司之第一分及第六十三號地段之第二分一連售與鄭星楊按該地三段鄭星
枇多徵一些
價或照計
些地稅
語
批
地稅
一千八百八十年七月二十七日
一千八百八十年八月初二日
Refer accordingly to the Attorney General for his opinion.
For what sum, and what date was this Lot originally sold? for what sum has GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co, now sold it to CHENG SING-YEUNG?
J. POPE HENNESSY.
26th July, 1880.
MINUTE BY THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.
This Lot (No. 8 Inland) was sold by Government in 1841, not for a premium, but for an annual Crown rent (as explained in my letter) $779.14 per annum.
Mr. GIBB sold it this year to CHENG SING-YEUNG, together with two other Lots, the property of the house of GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co., viz.:- Lots 1A. and 63B. CHENG SING-YEUNG has paid $240,000 for the three Lots, but what proportion of this amount went to Lot 8 I cannot say, the matter being a private one between Messrs. GIBB, LIVINGSTON and CHENG SING-YEUNG.
27th July, 1880.
J. M. PRICE.
寧人鄭星拔爲買受都行第八號地段事因切行起過皇家餘地一塊約闊三尺至今有卅餘年之久未有一題及今
督十六圓一毫七仙仰將切行
地另徵地稅鋨
請嗣後可計該
督憲大人施恩不取地價則感德不淺矣民買受理宜照舊簪業既是要民加納地稅民亦愿遵命惟求乞
語批憲
行共
及原
鄭在地
照稅将
批定計鄭星楊合
行申覆
共輸秕若干槪
司務
I
地嗣十月灉段後九地
七
鄭圓稅規
重十輸星十七十慝九地揚十七年
MINUTE BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
I think the Governor can demand a premium or a higher proportional rent in these cases as suggested.
28th July, 1880.
E. L. O'MALLEY.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
Let it be publicly notified that in all future cases of this kind I shall expect a premium or a higher proportional rent.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
2nd August, 1880.
工務司大人作主恩准施行
覆
一千八百八十年
一千八百八十年
申共應輸銀七百九
十六圓一十七仙一批
督
行多重
買而地
十五圓三十一
語有權定價或照計多徵一些地稅因本港地價日昻且因地價9舁
但照本部堂意見如此侵佔情事行買來價媜計算另外並未增價憲多而每年地秕僅依該地本由切重地段時露出侵佔之地如此之行規制符合卽准將邇日買此貴所請因查如此都與歷年香港通
七月二十三日
士富厚商民者更屬如是
而上等便宜貿易之地段現屬本
鄭星楊禀
Translated by.
CHAN A-FOOK.
E. J. EITEL.
True translation,
22nd July, 1880.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
Act on the Surveyor General's recommendation, and charge $16.17 additional Crown rent.
Let me know the Crown rent paid by GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co., and the total now charged under this decision to CHENG SING-YEUNG.
J. POPE HENNESSY.
23rd July, 1880.
MINUTE BY THE SURVEYOR GENERAL.
GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co. paid $779.14 per annum.
CHENG SING-YEUNG will now pay for same Lot $779.14 + $16.17 = $795.31.
23rd July, 1880.
J. M. PRICE.
MINUTE BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.
I have in this, as in some similar cases, acted on the Surveyor General's recommendation, which seems to accord with the practice prevailing for many years in Hongkong, that the encroachment on Crown land, which was discovered on the recent sale of this valuable property, should be assessed only at the same annual Crown rent per foot that was realized by the Lot when originally bought by Messrs. GIBB, LIVINGSTON & Co., without any further charge. I believe, however, that in all cases of such encroachments, I would be entitled to demand a premium or a higher proportional rent, looking to the increasing value of land in this Colony, and especially of the first-class commercial sites now passing into the hands of wealthy native traders.
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