HKG-CAR1887-1903 — Page 281

Administrative Reports 行政報告書 All AI Reviewed

274

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941

confidence among the inhabitants. Improved communications have already led to an increase in traffic, and steps are being taken to start new industries and to effect improvements in those already established. Progress in the New Territory may be slow, but now that confidence prevails among the people, it may be anticipated that capital will soon be attracted to it, which cannot fail to hasten its development.

I have, &c.,

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,

Colonial Secretary and Registrar General.

Appendix No. III.

MEMORANDUM ON LAND.

Chinese law regarding Land.

Land according to Chinese tenure is held as freehold by grant from the Crown, and descends in the male line only. Daughters never inherit.

The land comprised in the original grant can be sold by the proprietors in sub-divisions, and is most usually sold in perpetuity, or for 1,000 years. The proprietors record their names in the district registry as responsible for the tax, and their possession is legally secure so long as that is paid.

Deeds of absolute sale have been brought in from the New Territory for registration which were made in the reign of the Emperor Ka Tsing and of subsequent emperors of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1519 to 1626), and which have been recognised by the present dynasty. Strictly, a grant issued by the present dynasty should be attached to all grants made by the previous dynasty. The present owners under such grants are all the existing male descendants of the original grantee, and in one case the proprietors now number over 700.

All land under cultivation is supposed to pay a land tax, and from time to time spasmodic attempts are made to survey the area under cultivation. But in spite of Government orders, all efforts to obtain correct data of the actual acreage brought under cultivation have been frustrated. The landowners, wishing to have their land exempted from the payment of taxes, seem to have succeeded in inducing the survey officers not to make correct reports. But when large and fertile tracts, yielding valuable crops, are not reported for registration, such as has been the case with extensive areas reclaimed from the sea near San T'in, the Chinese authorities generally confiscate and re-sell them to private individuals, after they discover them.

Different kinds of land that pay land tax.

Agricultural land is divided into three classes, each class paying a different rate. First class lands are those near villages in fertile valleys, with a good depth of soil and a good water supply, producing annually two crops of rice, or one crop of sugar cane.

Second class lands are those less fertile than the first class, and are generally situated higher up the slopes of hills, and have not such a good water supply as the first class. They produce annually one crop of rice, or one crop of sugar cane.

Third class lands are those situated on still higher slopes, and are far removed from a good water supply. They are generally devoted to the cultivation of pea-nuts, sweet potatoes, millet and other hardy crops which do not require much moisture.

Fish ponds pay a special tax higher than that paid by cultivated land of the first class.

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274 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941 16 confidence among the inhabitants. Improved communications have already led to an increase in traffic, and steps are being taken to start new industries and to effect improvements in those already established. Progress in the New Territory may be slow, but now that confidence prevails among the people, it may be anticipated that capital will soon be attracted to it, which cannot fail to hasten its development. I have, &c., J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary and Registrar General. Appendix No. III. MEMORANDUM ON LAND. Chinese law regarding Land. Land according to Chinese tenure is held as freehold by grant from the Crown, and descends in the male line only. Daughters never inherit. The land comprised in the original grant can be sold by the proprietors in sub-divisions, and is most usually sold in perpetuity, or for 1,000 years. The proprietors record their names in the district registry as responsible for the tax, and their possession is legally secure so long as that is paid. Deeds of absolute sale have been brought in from the New Territory for registration which were made in the reign of the Emperor Ka Tsing and of subsequent emperors of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1519 to 1626), and which have been recognised by the present dynasty. Strictly, a grant issued by the present dynasty should be attached to all grants made by the previous dynasty. The present owners under such grants are all the existing male descendants of the original grantee, and in one case the proprietors now number over 700. All land under cultivation is supposed to pay a land tax, and from time to time spasmodic attempts are made to survey the area under cultivation. But in spite of Government orders, all efforts to obtain correct data of the actual acreage brought under cultivation have been frustrated. The landowners, wishing to have their land exempted from the payment of taxes, seem to have succeeded in inducing the survey officers not to make correct reports. But when large and fertile tracts, yielding valuable crops, are not reported for registration, such as has been the case with extensive areas reclaimed from the sea near San T'in, the Chinese authorities generally confiscate and re-sell them to private individuals, after they discover them. Different kinds of land that pay land tax. Agricultural land is divided into three classes, each class paying a different rate. First class lands are those near villages in fertile valleys, with a good depth of soil and a good water supply, producing annually two crops of rice, or one crop of sugar cane. Second class lands are those less fertile than the first class, and are generally situated higher up the slopes of hills, and have not such a good water supply as the first class. They produce annually one crop of rice, or one crop of sugar cane. Third class lands are those situated on still higher slopes, and are far removed from a good water supply. They are generally devoted to the cultivation of pea-nuts, sweet potatoes, millet and other hardy crops which do not require much moisture. Fish ponds pay a special tax higher than that paid by cultivated land of the first class.

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274 Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941 16 confidence among the inhabitants. Improved communications have already led to an increase in traffic, and steps are being taken to start new industries and to effect improve ments in those already established. Progress in the New Territory may be slow, but now that confidence prevails among the people, it may be anticipated that capital will soon be attracted to it, which cannot fail to hasten its development. I have, &c., J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary and Registrar General. Appendix No. III. MEMORANDUM ON LAND. Chinese law regarding Land. Land according to Chinese tenure is held as freehold by grant from the Crown. and descends in the male line only. Daughters never inherit. The land comprised in the original grant can be sold by the proprietors in sub-divisions, and is most usually sold in perpetuity, or for 1,000 years. The proprietors record their names in the district registry as responsible for the tax, and their possession is legally secure so long as that is paid. Deeds of absolute sale have been brought in from the New Territory for registration which were made in the reign of the Emperor Ka Tsing and of subsequent emperors of the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1519 to 1626), and which have been recognised by the present dynasty. Strictly, a grant issued by the present dynasty should be attached to all grants made by the previous dynasty. The present owners under such grants are all the existing male descendants of the original grantee, and in one case the proprietors now number over 700. All land under cultivation is supposed to pay a land tax, and from time to time spasmodic attempts are made to survey the area under cultivation. But in spite of Government orders, all efforts to obtain correct data of the actual acreage brought under cultivation have been frustrated. The landowners, wishing to have their land exempted from the payment of taxes, seem to have succeeded in inducing the survey officers not to make correct reports. But when large and fertile tracts, yielding valuable crops, are not reported for registration, such as has been the case with extensive areas reclaimed from the sea near San T'in, the Chinese authorities generally confiscate and re-sell them to private individuals, after they discover them. Different kinds of land that pay land tax. Agricultural land is divided into three classes, each class paying a different rate. First class lands are those near villages in fertile valleys, with a good depth of soil and a good water supply, producing annually two crops of rice, or one crop of sugar cane. Second class lands are those less fertile than the first class, and are generally situated higher up the slopes of hills, and have not such a good water supply as the first class. They produce annually one crop of rice, or one crop of sugar cane. Third class lands are those situated on still higher slopes, and are far removed from a good water supply. They are generally devoted to the cultivation of pea-nuts, sweet potatoes, millet and other hardy crops which do not require much moisture. Fish ponds pay a special tax higher than that paid by cultivated land of the first class.

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274

Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841–1941

confidence among the inhabitants. Improved communications have already led to an increase in traffic, and steps are being taken to start new industries and to effect improve ments in those already established. Progress in the New Territory may be slow, but now that confidence prevails among the people, it may be anticipated that capital will soon be attracted to it, which cannot fail to hasten its development.