PRINTED FOR PARLIAMENT
32492
RE
Col Reports Aug A1816 SEP CO
SIR,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 12th August, 1901.
I have the honour to forward for your information a report furnished by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, on the operations in the New Territory during the year 1900.
Enclosure No. 1.
(96 Espus par Bork Pat)
See Appendices to this Report in Enclosure No. 1.
2. I had hoped that the collection of revenue might have been in a more forward state, but the report by Mr. GOMPERTZ of the working of the Land Court shows the difficulties of dealing with these small plots and defining the rights of the occupier, the family, the clan, and the Crown. It is possible that a certain amount of revenue might have been got in by rough and ready methods, but there would have been much injustice to individuals—indeed an attempt was made to collect, upon a system of averages, Crown Rent upon claims that had been lodged, the result being complaints from several people that they had been compelled to pay two and three times the amounts claimable from them under the terms of Crown Rent as gazetted and notified. Finding that this was true I ordered the money paid in excess to be refunded, and determined that it is better not to press for payment until we have the different plots properly entered and registered. This is slower, but will save much trouble in the future. I attach a copy of another decision that will illustrate the intricacy of the claims put forward to the Land Court.
3. I hope to be able to reduce the number of Police in the New Territory immediately. Since the late abortive rebellion in the Wai Chou district the northern portion of Sham Chun Valley has been in a disorderly condition, and several robberies have been effected in our territory by bands from over the border. At my request the Viceroy of Canton, who has shown the utmost readiness to assist in securing the peace of that district, has ordered that troops shall be stationed at various points along the frontier. I hope that this will have the effect of putting a stop to the trouble, and enable me to reduce our Police force to more modest dimensions.
Appendix No. 2. page 1 Report of Mr. GOMPERTZ's decision as to ownership in the small Island of Tsing I
4. Unhappily we find the whole of the New Territory malarious. Experiments are now being tried of different treatment at different stations and records are being carefully kept. At one station quinine is administered as a prophylactic after Dr. KOCA's advice, i.e., 15 grains two days running and then an interval of seven days before repetition. At another, 5 grain doses are given daily; at a third arsenic is given instead, &c., &c. Wire gauze windows are being added to stations, but as the men are out almost every night on patrol duty I fear that this will not suffice as a preventive measure.
5. The question of an experimental garden must remain over until Mr. FORD's return, but I question if the low lying land can be made to produce more paying crops than at present. The fresh sugar canes imported last year are doing well, but, so far, the working of the improved steel mills does not meet with the approval of the farmers, the principal complaint being that they break the cane up so finely as to make it useless for fuel. They do not yet realize the waste of using half crushed cane for fuel, and probably do not quite understand the working of the mills. This will come later on.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&c.
&c.
No
0.0.
53
PRINTED FOR PARI
32492
RE
Col Reports Aure A1816 SEP CO
SIR,
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 12th August, 1901.
I have the honour to forward for your information a report furnished by the Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, on the operations in the New Territory during the year 1900.
Enclosure No. 1.
(96 Espus par Bork Pat)
See
ee Appenges t
in Endly are No. 1.
See Report.
2. I had hoped that the collection of revenue might have been in a more for- ward state, but the report by Mr. GoMPERTZ of the working of the Land Court shows the difficulties of dealing with these small plots and defining the rights of the occupier, the family, the clan, and the Crown. It is possible that a certain amount of revenue might have been got in by rough and ready methods, but there would have been much injustice to individuals—indeed an attempt was made to collect, upon a system of averages, Crown Rent upon claims that had been lodged, the result being complaints from several people that they had been compelled to pay two and three times the amounts claimable from them under the terms of Crown Rent as gazetted and notified. Finding that this was true I ordered the money paid in excess to be refunded, and determined that it is better not to press for payment until we have the different plots properly entered and registered. This is slower, but will save much trouble in the future. I attach a copy of another
that will illustrate the intricacy of the claims put forward to the Land Court.
3. I hope to be able to reduce the number of Police in the New Territory immediately. Since the late abortive rebellion in the Wai Chou district the northern portion of Sham Chun Valley has been in a disorderly condition, and several robberies have been effected in our territory by bands from over the border. At my request the Viceroy of Canton, who has shown the utmost readi- ness to assist in securing the peace of that district, has ordered that troops shall he stationed at various points along the frontier. I hope that this will have the effect of putting a stop to the trouble, and enable me to reduce our Police force to more modest dimensions.
Appendix No. 2. page 1 feport of Mr. GOMPEUTZ's decision as to ownership in the small Island of Tsing I
4. Unhappily we find the whole of the New Territory malarious. Experi- ments are now being tried of different treatment at different stations and records are being carefully kept. At one station quinine is administered as a prophylactic after Dr. Koca's advice, Le., 15 grains two days ruming and then an interval of seven days before repetition. At another, 5 grain doses are given daily; at a third arsenic is given instead, &c., &c. Wire gauze windows are being added to sta- tions, but as the men are out almost every night on patrol duty I fear that this will not suffice as a preventive measure.
5. The question of an experimental garden must remain over until Mr. FORD's return, but I question if the low lying land can be made to produce more paying crops than at present. The fresh sugar canes imported last year are doing well, but, so far, the working of the improved steel mills does not meet with the approval of the farmers, the principal complaint being that they break the
up cane so finely as to make it useless for fuel. They do not yet realize the waste of using half crushed cane for fuel, and probably do not quite understand the working of the mills. This will come later on.
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&..
&c.
.
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