526
proportionate degree his strictly Police duties became
secondary. On the one hand it has been found that the
greater part of the Police work of the New Territories
must necessarily be conducted direct from Headquarters in
Hongkong (which is in telephones communication), including
such matters as Morning reports, transfers, defaulters and
questions concerning money, so that the duty of inspecting
the various stations from time to time, and the occasional
direction of enquiries in the more serious cases were prac-
tically all the strictly Police duties remaining to the
Assistant Superintendent of Police. On the other hand he
became responsible for the collection of Crown Rents ag-
gregating about $90,000 per annum and of certain Licence
fees amounting to between $7,000 and $8,000 per annum.
The
collection of the Land Revenue is a heavy and onerous task,
involving some three months of incessant work and demanding
an intimate knowledge of both the people and of technical
details.
The District Officer acts as Magistrate, settles
village disputes and disputes between Chinese Railway Con-
tractors and their coolies. It is his duty at all times,
especially when troops are temporarily camped in the New
Territories to safe-guard the interests of the natives, and
to report to Government any irregularity which may come
under his notice.
4. In