J 3
Building construction.-The restriction of building construction to villages was less marked than in the previous year, although it still continued the main feature of this kind of development. Modern houses costing from $8,000 to $25,000 totalling not less than $200,000 were erected, as well as large Chinese houses and at least one good school. More than twenty houses and shops were projected on the South side of the main road at Yuen Long, the fore-runners, it is to be hoped, of a long-needed extension of the market in this direction.
IV. REVENUE.
The Revenue collected in this office is set out under the appropriate heads in Table C. to which should be added the following amounts collected in the district by other Departments:
Crown Rent paid in Land Office $ c. 2,940.00 Mining Licence fees paid in Treasury 1,125.00 Harbour Dues Sai Kung 2,271.25 " Sai Kung (No. 4 Launch) ... Deep Bay (No. 1 Launch) 1,534.40 Taipo (No. 2 Launch) 5,163.15 Total 2,279.90 $15,313.70Liquor and tobacco duties collected by Imports and Exports Department are not included.
Allowing for the transfer of liquor duties to the Imports and Exports Department and other abnormal factors, there was a real increase of about $4,000, mainly in land sales and traffic fines, in the revenue from all sources.
The main points of note are a decrease in the number of money-changers' licences and an increase in the number of licences to sell kerosene, a commodity on which there is a heavy duty in China.
V. GENERAL.
Frontier. Early in the year the frontier situation eased considerably. Chinese troops at Shamchun were relieved in January by local guards, and replaced in September by a small regular detachment. Disciplinary action was taken by the Chinese authorities against irregularities in Chinese Shataukok, and the guards there were reorganized. Relations became normal about July, and it was possible again to co-operate freely with the neighbouring local authorities in maintaining peace and order.
Towards the end of the year the long-abandoned construction of a modern road from Shamchun to Lo Wu, just across the border, was resumed, and further improvements in communications in this neighbourhood are contemplated.