Appendix J (1)
REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE YEAR 1939.
Southern District.
STAFF.
Mr. H. J. Cruttwell continued as District Officer throughout the year.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
2. Tables I and III show comparative details of revenue and expenditure of the department in 1938 and 1939.
3. In spite of a considerable decrease in fees for earth and stone, and of an apparent falling off (explained in the footnote to Table II) in the yield from permits for occupation of Crown Land, pineapple plantations, and for matsheds, bathing sheds and temporary structures on private land, the revenue collected exceeded the 1938 total by $18,533.15. The chief factors in this increase were the rise of nearly $11,000 in premia on land sales and the collection of rates at the full rate. There was also an increase in revenue from court fines and from registration of deeds.
4. Table III shows a comparative statement of revenue and expenditure of the department for the last 10 years.
MACISTRACY.
5. Tables IV to VIII give details of the cases heard by the District Officer as Police Magistrate and as Judge of the Small Debts Court.
6. Police cases increased by 10%. There were more larcenies and once again forestry offences were numerous.
Two persons were under arrest at the end of the year on a charge of murder and there was one case of manslaughter sent for trial.
The number of opium offences decreased by more than half.
7. During the year eight juveniles were dealt with.
8. The number of small debts cases fell off considerably, but land cases increased.
9. The District Officer as coroner held eight death inquiries.
LAND.
10. The work of the Land Office is shown in Table X.
Largely as a result of big sales in the Lo Wai area of Tsun Wan and in the Mui Wo area of Lantao premia increased by $10,756.25. During the latter part of the year somewhat higher rates of premium for building land were in force in some parts of the district, while agricultural rates were relaxed.
11. There was a general increase in sales of building and of agricultural land both to villagers and non-villagers: it is particularly satisfactory to see that purchases of agricultural land by the former increased from 1.47 acres in 1938 to 14.20 acres.
12. The rather high figure for re-entries is largely on account of non-payment of Crown Rent: but a number of lots near Hang Hau purchased in 1937 were re-entered on for failure to build.
Appendix J (1)
REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORIES FOR THE YEAR 1939.
Southern District.
STAFF.
Mr. H. J. Cruttwell continued as District Officer throughout the year.
REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE.
2. Tables I and III show comparative details of revenue and expenditure of the department in 1938 and 1939.
3. In spite of a considerable decrease in fees for earth and stone, and of an apparent falling off (explained in the footnote to Table II) in the yield from permits for occupation of Crown Land, pineapple plantations, and for matsheds, bathing sheds and temporary structures on private land, the revenue collected exceeded the 1938 total by $18,533.15. The chief factors in this increase were the rise of nearly $11,000 in premia on land sales and the collection of rates at the full rate. There was also an increase in revenue from court fines and from registration of deeds.
4. Table III shows a comparative statement of revenue and expenditure of the department for the last 10 years.
MACISTRACY.
5. Tables IV to VIII give details of the cases heard by the District Officer as Police Magistrate and as Judge of the Small Debts Court.
6.
Police cases increased by 10%. There were more larcenies and once again forestry offences were numerous.
Two persons were under arrest at the end of the year on a charge of murder and there was one case of manslaughter sent for trial.
The number of opium offences decreased by more than half.
7. During the year eight juveniles were dealt with.
S. The number of small debts cases fell off considerably, but land cases increased.
9. The District Officer as coroner held eight death inquiries.
LAND.
10. The work of the Land Office is shown in Table X.
Largely as a result of big sales in the Lo Wai area of Tsun Wan and in the Mui Wo area of Lantao premia increased by $10,756.25. During the latter part of the year somewhat higher rates of premium for building land were in force in some parts of the district, while agricultural rates were relaxed.
11. There was a general increase in sales of building and of agricultural land both to villagers and non-villagers: it is particularly satisfactory to see that purchases of agricultural land by the former increased from 1.47 acres in 1938 to 14.20 acres.
12. The rather high figure for re-entries is largely on account of non- payment of Crown Rent: but a number of lots near Hang Hau purchased in 1937 were re-entered on for failure to build.
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