to "sell the property for $25,000 (Tong Wan Chin & Cheung Ching Shan have obtained the purchase to be completed within one month after the Vendors should obtain the Certificate of Title from the Land Court or Government of Hongkong) due recognition of the full and complete title/ownership of the Vendors to the said premises.
The agreement stated that if such certificate was not obtained within one year, the agreement would be void.
On 4 Dec 1901, the Land Court gave judgement allowing 40.59 acres (Lam Tak Luk & Lam Cheung Tak). It was then for the Hongkong Government (a) to grant title or (b), if the Governor considered that inexpedient, to refer the case back to the Land Court to assess the compensation to be paid.
In Dec 1901/Jan 1902, Deacons, solicitors to Tong Wan Chin & Cheung Ching Shan, wrote to God asking when the certificate of title would be granted.
In Feb 1902, J.H. Lockhart replied that it was not considered expedient to issue a formal certificate of title pending the exact amount of tax payable on the land, but that it was hoped that this would be settled at no very distant date.
On 3 Sept 1902, the sale from Lam Tak Luk & Lam Cheung Tak to Woo Tim Pak & Lan Sang came into effect for $9000, with the vendors covenanting that they now have good right to assign the said premises.
On 29 Dec 1902, Woo Tim Pak & Lan Sang formally conveyed the property to Tong Wan Chin & Cheung Ching Shan for $25,000, with the vendors covenanting that they now have good right to assign the said premises.
In 1902, it was intimated that the Government was unable to grant a title for the Marine Lot but would grant a title for the Inland Lot on certain conditions. Finding, however, that the claimants had sold their rights and that there was little likelihood of any agreement satisfactory to the Government with the speculators who had purchased the rights, the Government wrote stating that a title would not be granted and that the case would be referred back to the Land Court to assess compensation.
In Bowley, Crown Solicitor, was...