CO129-285 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [9-10] — Page 350

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The IA

343

In Kowloon the Crown Leases have with some few

exceptions, viz., two or three inland lots, the Marine Lots at

Tsim-tsa-shui, and the property held by the HKong & Whampoa

Dock Co.all of which are on a tenure of 999 years been made

for a term of 75 years, and the same term was given to the

Rural Building Lots in the Hill District. The owners of all

these lots, however, were allowed to believe that the question

of the future extension of the lease to a parity with those

held within the city of Victoria would be considered, and that,

in no case, would resumption follow on conclusion of the term.

In this faith, too, mortgages have been effected which other-

wise could not have safely been concluded.

The Committee feel profound regret that so ra-

dical a measure affecting the tenure of land should have ac-

tually been put into operation without consulting any opinion

in this Colony, and they deplore the tendency at the Colonial

Office to endeavour to apply legislation to distant dependen-

cles of the Crown without sufficient regard being had to the

local circumstances. In the present case, the change so uncere-

moniously introduced cannot fail to have farreaching conse-

quences, and in its working will assuredly act disastrously on

the future well being of the Colony. In protesting against the

change, the Committee wish to point out.-

1. The abandonment of long leases, after grant-

ing the same for nearly fifty years, will have the effect

of

(a)