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issued, for, when I gave order only to have One Ma wao put on the licence, I was not aware that the original holder was dead. I have made a strict inquiry into this matter, as my suspicions were naturally aroused by the application for a duplicate license being almost coincident with the report of the original holder's death, especially as the land in question is a valuable one and would fetch a high premium if put up to tender.
3. On inquiry I find that the man Chii Kam fong was the partner of the original Lessee, So Yit him, who is dead. In 1874 a licence was issued to So Yik him, and in the Market Register there is the following pencil note in Mr Cecil Smith's handwriting "Fresh licence issued and So-Yik-him informed that on his leaving the business, the stall will, after notice of one month, be recalled." In 1876 Chii Kam-fong (the person who applied for the duplicate license on the present occasion) was admitted as a partner, and the Market Register shows that he registered himself.
It appears that a duplicate license was issued, but there is nothing to show whether the above pencil mark was made when the duplicate was issued, which is alleged to have been lost, and there is no record as to whether Chii Kam-fong was told when he was admitted as a Partner that on the death of So Yik him the stall would revert to Government. Section 15 of Ordinance 9 of 1858 states: "Every lessee or licensee as soon as may be, after being accepted as such, and before entering into possession of any such building, shall furnish the Registrar with a written statement of the names of all persons, if any, having any co-partnery interest.