Reference to previous returns shows that the Small Debts Court opened in 1910 with 240 cases. The number decreased to 42 in 1914, rose again to 313 in 1919, dropped to 62 in 1922, since when it rose steadily till 1926, and in 1927 again crossed the two hundred mark. Allowing for abnormalities, the average number of small debts cases heard annually at Taipo is about two hundred. The extra fifty in 1927 are due partly to the swing of the pendulum, and partly to the recent increase in Chinese immigration and facilities for trade.
After a long period of disorganization consequent on the strike, the land boom and the boycott, this increasing tendency to refer disputes, together with the decrease in crime, is a most hopeful sign.
Besides the cases quoted, there were 31 miscellaneous, 32 "women and girls" cases, and 139 land disputes, in addition to 15 death enquiries, two of which were formal, at Taipo.
At Ping Shan, there were 187 cases of all descriptions in 1927, as against 87 in 1926, the average for the past five years being 70.
The total amount paid into Court in cases of all kinds in 1927 was $12,542.92.
III. LAND Office.
The number of sales and other transactions affecting land during the year is set out in table B.
The number of memorials was 2,743 as against 2,417 in 1926. Fees received were $3,617.30, against $2,855.00 in the previous year.
The main features of land office work were (a) the reversion to Government of the last of the undeveloped building-sites sold during the land boom, mostly in the hands of Hong Kong owners, and (b) increases in sales of land for agriculture and in the number of small conversions. It will be noted in this connection that the number of conversions for 1927 was 105 against 66 in the previous year, while the built-over area was 2.94 against 4.51 acres in 1926. These figures express an all-round village development.
In semi-urban areas the centres of development were again Taipo, Fanling and Yuen Long.
IV.—REVENUE.
The Revenue collected in this office is set out under the appropriate heads in Table C, totalling $127,251.02.
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cuse. Reference to previous returns shows that the Small Debts Court opened in 1910 with 240 cases. The number decreased to 42 in 1914, rose again to 313 in 1919, dropped to 62 in 1922, since when it rose steadily till 1926, and in 1927 again crossed the two hundred mark. Allowing for abnormalities, the average number of small debts cases heard annually at Taipo is about two hundred. The extra fifty in 1927 are due partly to the swing of the pendulum, and partly to the recent increase in Chinese immigration and facilities for trade.
After a long period of disorganization consequent on the strike, the land boom and the boycott, this increasing tendency to refer disputes, together with the decrease in crime, is a most hopeful sign.
Besides the cases quoted, there were 31 miscellaneous, 32 "women and girls" cases, and 139 land disputes, in addition to 15 death enquiries, two of which were formal, at Taipo.
At Ping Shan, there were 187 cases of all descriptions in 1927, as against 87 in 1926, the average for the past five years being 70.
The total amount paid into Court in cases of all kinds in 1927 was $12,542.92.
III. LAND Office.
The number of sales and other transactions affecting land during the year is set out in table B.
The number of memorials was 2,743 as against 2,417 in 1926. Fees received were $3,617.30, against $2,855.00 in the previous year.
The main features of land office work were (a) the reversion to Government of the last of the undeveloped building-sites sold during the land boom, mostly in the hands of Hong Kong owners, and (b) increases in sales of land for agriculture and in the number of small conversions. It will be noted in this connection that the number of conversions for 1927 was 105 against 66 in the previous year, while the built-over area was 2.94 against 4.51 acres in 1926. These figures express an all- round village development.
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In semi-urban areas the centres of development were again Taipo, Fanling and Yuen Long.
IV.-REVENUE.
The Revenue collected in this office is set out under the appropriate heads in Table C. totalling $127,251.02.
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