HONGKONG, 1922.
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In the New Territories the net amount received for premium on sales of land was $173,054.79, the principal items being $70,000 for New Kowloon Inland Lots Nos. 370 and 371, $12,100 for New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 350, and $11,603 for New Kowloon Inland Lot No. 364, being $87,463.78 more than the year 1921.
The number of deeds and documents registered in the Land Office was 4,146, rather less than last year which was a record year; the aggregate consideration set out in deeds registered was $107,392,435.38 as against $107,855,703.10 in 1921.
Resumptions include Kowloon Farm Lots Nos. 49 and 51 and a number of Agricultural Lots at Kau Pui Shek, all of which were required for development purposes.
Development at Shamshuipo continues.
The total area of land sold or granted during the year was 243a. 2r. 263p., of which 152a. 2r. 0p. were dealt with by the District Officers. The total area of land resumed was 102a. 3r. 17p.
In the New Territories, although the acreage disposed of was considerably less than during 1921, the prices realized showed an upward tendency in both Districts, the chief feature in the Northern District being the high prices paid for building sites on the reclamation at Taipo Market which realized from 50c. to $1 per square foot, whilst in the Southern District some big prices were paid for Inland lots at New Kowloon.
III-LEGISLATION.
Twenty-five (25) Ordinances were passed during 1922, of which 12 were amendments of previous Ordinances.
The most important matters with which these Ordinances dealt were:-
The Treaty of Peace (No. 1)-The object of which was to modify certain provisions of the Treaty of Peace Order, 1919, the Treaty of Peace (Austria) Order, 1920, the Treaty of Peace (Bulgaria) Order, 1920, and the Treaty of Peace (Hungary) Order, 1921, as amended, for the purpose of adapting the provisions of the said Orders to the circumstances of the Colony.
The Police Supervision (No. 4)-The object of this Ordinance was to provide for police supervision of certain persons. It was found desirable that, with a view to preventing crime, the police should be empowered to supervise persons convicted of serious offences and also of persons believed to be bad characters.
The Emergency Regulations (No. 5)-This Ordinance was passed with a view to giving the Governor in Council, in case of emergency or public danger, power to make such regulations as may appear desirable in the public interest.