316
6
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-MISCELLANEOUS.
REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORY FOR THE YEAR 1900.
LAND.
The work of the Land Office in Hongkong as regards the New Territory for 1900 falls under two heads:-
(a.) The translation and registration of Deeds under Ordinance No. 3 of 1844.
(b.) The registration of claims for the purposes of the Rough Rent Roll.
As regards (a.), the Registration Fees received from the New Territory last year amounted to $1,892, and Deeds relating to 431 Lots situated in 45 different villages were duly registered by Memorials under the Ordinance.
The question has been raised whether it is desirable to continue the registration of instruments in the Chinese language dated in some cases many years before the Convention. It is found that villagers who have deposited their documents for registration and paid the proper fees are apt to imagine that their title has been recognized by Government and that they need not trouble further to bring their claims before the Land Court.
Moreover, the lot number given on registration of a deed does not relate to any map, for the simple reason that there is not yet one available, and as the boundaries and the description of the land in the Chinese deed are invariably extremely vague, it is impossible to ascertain with any certainty where the land affected by the instrument is really situated.
It is true that the title of a registered owner becomes absolute if he remains in possession for 20 years, but in view of the constitution of a special tribunal—the Land Court—all claims will have been enquired into and fresh titles or certificates of title issued by a very much earlier date.
It would no doubt be desirable to continue the operation of the Ordinance in the New Territory for all conveyances and other deeds executed since the territory has become British, but it will probably be advisable to discontinue the registration of older deeds until their validity has been decided on by the Land Court.
As regards (b.)—the Rough Rent Roll—the work of enquiring into and registering claims, as described in my Report for 1899, was carried on until the summer of 1900 by Mr. Kemp, who was subsequently relieved by Mr. Wood at P'ing Shán and by Mr. Messer at Táipó.
316
6
Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
COLONIAL REPORTS-MISCELLANEOUS.
REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORY FOR THE YEAR 1900.
LAND.
The work of the Land Office in Hongkong as regards the New Territory for 1900 falls under two heads:-
(a.) The translation and registration of Deeds under Ordi-
nance No. 3 of 1844.
(b.) The registration of claims for the purposes of the
Rough Rent Roll.
As regards (a.), the Registration Fees received from the New Territory last year amounted to $1,892, and Deeds relating to 431 Lots situated in 45 different villages were duly registered by Memorials under the Ordinance.
The question has been raised whether it is desirable to con- tinue the registration of instruments in the Chinese language dated in some cases many years before the Convention. It is found that villagers who have deposited their documents for registration and paid the proper fees are apt to imagine that their title has been recognized by Government and that they need not trouble further to bring their claims before the Land Court.
Moreover, the lot number given on registration of a deed does not relate to any map, for the simple reason that there is not yet one available, and as the boundaries and the description of the land in the Chinese deed are invariably extremely vague, it is impossible to ascertain with any certainty where the land affected by the instrument is really situated.
霉
It is true that the title of a registered owner becomes absolute if he remains in possession for 20 years, but in view of the con- stitution of a special tribunal-the Land Court-all claims will have been enquired into and fresh titles or certificates of title issued by a very much earlier date.
It would no doubt be desirable to continue the operation of the Ordinance in the New Territory for all conveyances and other deeds executed since the territory has become British, but it will probably be advisable to discontinue the registration of older deeds until their validity has been decided on by the Land Court.
As regards (6.)-the Rough Rent Roll-the work of enquiring into and registering claims, as described in my Report for 1899, was carried on until the summer of 1900 by Mr. Kemp, who was subsequently relieved by Mr. Wood at P'ing Shán and by Mr. Messer at Táipó.
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