Appendix I.
REPORT OF THE LAND OFFICER FOR THE YEAR 1923.
1.-REGISTRATION.
During the year six thousand eight hundred and thirty-seven (6,837) Deeds and Documents were registered under the provisions of Ordinance No. 1 of 1844, affecting seven thousand six hundred and twenty-one (7,621) lots of land. The total money consideration on sales, mortgages, surrenders and miscellaneous documents amounted to $223,828,607.85, particulars of which are shown in Table I. The total number of documents registered in the Land Office under the provisions of Ordinance No. 1 of 1844 to the end of 1923 was 89,114. The number of Deeds registered each year for the last ten years is shown in Table III.
2.-GRANTS OF LAND.
The total area of land sold and granted during the year was 1,897 acres 0 roods 36 poles, of which 1,790 acres 1 rood 25½ poles was in respect of lands dealt with by the District Officers; the total area resumed was 82 acres 1 rood 26¼ poles; the excess of land granted over land resumed during the year was 1,814 acres 3 roods 10 poles. This is exclusive of quarries and lands let for short terms or occupied under temporary permits issued by the Public Works Department.
3.-GRANTS OF LEASES.
The number of Crown leases granted during the year was 209, particulars of which are specified in Table II. The number of Crown leases issued each year for the last ten years is shown in Table III.
4.-FEES.
The total of fees collected by stamps, exclusive of the New Territories, during the year was $123,631.00, being $47,990.00 more than the previous year, and $46,094.00 more than any year on record. Land registration fees in the New Territories amounted to $15,941.06, and Crown lease fees to $300.00.
The amounts of fees collected under the different headings for the years 1914 to 1923 are shown in Table IV.
5.-CROWN RENT ROLL.
The total Crown Rent due in respect of leased lands in Hong Kong and Kowloon (excluding certain Villages in Hong Kong and Kowloon entered in the Village Rent Roll) amounted for the year ending 25th December to $549,076.47, an increase of $42,725.10 on the previous year. The total amount due in respect of leased lands in the Villages of Hong Kong and Kowloon appearing in the Village Rent Roll...