Sect. file No.5/2914/46.
SAVINGRAM
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Officer Administering the Government
From the Governor, Hong Kong.
DCB:1c.
in
Date
5
July, 1950.
No.
717
Agricultural Land in the New Territories
occupied on annual permits.
There are instances of land in the New Territories being occupied for cultivation under annual permits, and in some cases these permits have been successively renewed for as many as twenty years. In some of these it is in the Crown's interests that no greater security of tenure be given because the land is likely to be required for impending development, but elsewhere there is no such impediment to granting a normal lease.
2.
In order to encourage the occupants of such land to make the best use of it and so increase local food production,
This can best it is essential to give them security of tenure. be achieved by granting New Territories Leases for a fixed term of 25 years or more, but in any event of course not beyond 1997. The normal procedure would be to put the land to public auction, but this might oust existing occupants from the land which they have been cultivating for a number of years and into which they have put labour and fertilizer, in favour of others whose only qualification is that they are richer.
3.
I propose, therefore, that the District Commissioner should be authorised to offer Crown Leases, without recourse to public auction but otherwise on the usual terms applicable in the New Territories, to long standing tenants subject to the following conditions:-
40
(a)
That the concession be applicable only to tenants approved by the District Commissioner who have been in occupation under permits renewed annually, or who have been holding over under leases which have expired, for at least ten years and have made the fullest use of their land.
(b)
That the full premium according to land values prevailing at the time of granting the lease be charged.
(၁)
That the Crown Rent be revised and the full modern rent according to land values prevailing at the time of granting the lease be charged.
(a) That there shall be no alienation without the District Commissioner's permission in writing.
(e) That there be a specific restriction that the land be used only for agricultural purposes, provided that it may be converted to building land after a term of ten years if the full difference in premium and Crown Rent is paid.
The total area of land which is likely to be the subject of this concession is about 145 acres.
10 JU 1951
3
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