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REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE
THE YEAR 1929.
B.-SOUTHERN DISTRICT.
1. STAFF.
Mr. J. A. Fraser continued in charge. Mr. E. H. Williams went on leave on 23rd March when Mr. J. S. MacLaren was appointed Assistant District Officer in both Districts.
2. MAGISTRACY.
Table A shows the number of cases heard by the District Officer sitting as Police Magistrate and as Judge of the Small Debts Court.
There was an increase in the number of police and Small Debts cases in 1929 as compared with 1928, but the combined figures for 1929 are still less than those for 1927.
3. LAND OFFICE.
The demand for land for building purposes remained about the same as in 1928 but there was a slight increase in the number of sales of agricultural land.
Permits to occupy land and matshed permits on Crown land increased in number by some 20%. There was a marked decrease in the number of earth, sand, and stone permits. Beaches are becoming rapidly denuded of sand and restriction of permits has had to be enforced.
The number of memorials registered was 1,536 as compared with 993 in 1928 but few transactions of any size were concluded.
The fees received as stamp duty amounted to $2,193.00 against $1,907.60 in 1928.
Resumptions in connection with the Shing Mun Water Scheme were the largest item in land work during the year. All the agricultural lots in Tsun Wan Demarcation Districts Nos. 452, 457, 458, 459, 460 and 466 were resumed.
4. REVENUE.
The revenue collected by the office is set out under the appropriate heads in Table C totalling $40,870.41. Tables D and E respectively show the revenue collected in the District by Police and other Departments, and Table F gives for purposes of comparison the total revenue from all sources for the past three years. The figures for 1929 show a satisfactory increase.
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