Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS—ANNUAL.
Control of the plantations of pine licensed to Chinese in 1904 was maintained; the few breaches of the rules that occurred were dealt with by withdrawal of the licence. On the whole the licensing scheme seems to have suited the Chinese.
(E.) Land GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.
The amount received from sales of Crown Land was $392,259.76, being some $94,000 less than the receipts for the previous year. This falling off may be attributed to the general depression of business throughout the year and the consequent tightness of the money market.
In the early part of the year the intricate questions connected with military lands and reserves in the Colony, which since 1883 had formed the subject of continual discussion between the Military and Civil Authorities, were comprehensively dealt with by Major J. F. Lewis, late R.E., deputed for that purpose by the War Department. An equitable settlement was proposed by that Officer, based on principles of which the adoption should minimise the chance of similar difficulties arising in the future. This settlement, accepted by the Governor and the General Officer Commanding, was approved by the Colonial Office, War Office, and Treasury.
Building land in the urban portion of the Colony and in the Peak District is limited in extent with the natural consequence that house-rents, especially on the higher levels, have advanced to an extent probably unknown in other British Colonies.
III—LEGISLATION.
Twelve Ordinances were passed during 1905, the most important measure being the New Territories Land Ordinance, No. 3 of 1905, which together with an amending Ordinance, No. 9 of 1905, is designed to facilitate the transfer of land in the New Territories and to provide a simple and inexpensive procedure for settling land disputes therein.
An amendment of the Vagrancy Ordinance, No. 2 of 1905, increases the liability of shipowners and masters who bring undesirable persons into the Colony, and enables rules to be made for the more rigorous treatment of vagrants in the House of Detention.
Provision is made under the Merchant Shipping Amendment Ordinance, No. 5 of 1905, for the carrying of suitable lights by junks, and the same Ordinance extends greater facilities in respect of the navigation of steamships of small size plying between Hong Kong and the neighbouring ports of the Canton Province by lightening the somewhat onerous conditions hitherto imposed.