CO129-298 - Governor Sir Blake Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne - 1900 [3-4] — Page 148

ANÇAS KOPAS

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dealt with but also various designing persons capa- ble of appreciating the rise in the value of various parts of the land certain to take place in the near

1

future when roads are completed and communication with Hongkong proper, becomes easy.

The Ordinance is drawn, to a considerable extent, upon the lines of the Squatters Ordinance, 1890 (No. 27 of 1890) which has, I think, worked satisfactorily, but which could have worked more expeditiously had the Board been composed of fewer members. It is not always easy to get a quorum of at least three very busy men together from different, departments for a fairly long sitting.

Bearing this in mind, section 3 confers considerable jurisdiction on one member ritting alone. Bit, as there will also be some cases involving in- portant principles or, where the claims advanced are of considerable value, the addition of the second member viz a President will give additional weight to the decisions of the Court when it is necessary for both members to sit together.

Section 4 provides for the appointment of a Registrar.

If he has tact, and knows the ways of the Chinese

and their language he will greatly facilitate the

successful working of the Ordinance.

Section 5 and 6 are very similar to sections 4 and

6 of the Squatters Ordinance.

Section 7 sanctions friendly compromises of disputed

rights.

Section 8 empowers the Court to make those who, by

false claims or improper opposition, put the other

side to unnecessary expense, pay the costs of

witnesses, &c.

Sections