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Authorities, and 300,000 square feet at the cost of private individuals in connection with the crusade against mosquitoes and malaria.
The first crop of rice in the New Territories was poor owing to the drought, but the second crop was good, and other vegetable and fruit crops have been up to the average.
A sample of Chinese peppermint oil has been submitted to the Director of the Imperial Institute at his own request. It has been reported on favourably, but owing to its cost it is not thought that it can be exported profitably to England.
The account of the Flora of Hongkong, the New Territories and Kuangtung Province has been completed, and arrangements have been made for its publication in the Journal of Botany during the current year.
(e.) LAND GRANTS AND GENERAL VALUE OF LAND.
The net amount received from sales of Crown Land and pier rights after deducting expenses of sales was $62,686, an increase of $22,021 on the previous year and $67,294 less than the average amount received for the last 5 years. Of this amount $28,373 was received in respect of the sale of various pier sites and extensions to existing piers, $11,416 was received in respect of sales of land in the New Territories and the remainder from sales of new lots of Crown Land and grants of extensions to existing lots in the island of Hongkong and Old Kowloon. The chief item was received in respect of the sale of the right of erecting a pier opposite Ice House Street in the City of Victoria for which $17,900 was paid.
There has been an increase in the number of Crown Lots sold for building purposes in the City and adjacent district during the year but the demand for new sites still remains small.
A considerable increase has taken place both in the number and value of private properties which have changed hands during the year, prices are generally considered steady and rents are generally being increased as existing leases and tenancies expire.
The demand for small building sites in the New Territories is increasing as is also that for short and annual leases for agricultural purposes.
With the opening of the railway several enquiries have been made in connection with the building of European dwellings at Tai Po and it is considered that there will probably be a considerable development in this neighbourhood in the future.
The re-arrangement of the whole of the extensive properties of the Tai Koo Sugar Refinery Co., Ltd., and the Tai Koo Dockyard and Engineering Co., Ltd., at Shaukiwan and Quarry Bay, involving very extensive surveys, was completed during the year.