CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10] — Page 528

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value of building and agricultural land than with the intention

of permanently fixing the real ground rental value.

7.

From the 18th. of April, 1904, until the

30th. June, 1904, inclusive, no collection of Crown Rent was

made. From the 1st. of July, 1904, onwards Crown hent was collect-

-ed at the enhanced rates based on the issue of permanent titles

in the shape of Crown Leases for 75 years from the 1st, of July,

1898, renewable for 24 years less three days. These rates were

embodied in a notification which was translated into Chinese and

posted all over the New Territories in the form of a Prociana-

-tion. They are those against which the orients of Mr. Otto Kong

Sing memorialised Your Lordship.

&.

in addition to the Petition which has been

referred to me for report on its merits, there was presented 'to

me in April of this year a Fetition subscribed by persons living

in most Districts of the New Territories including those of New

Kowloon which was in the main a more comprehensive representa-

-tion of the grievances from which the Crown Lessees in New

Kowloon alleged that they were suffering.

9.

This general Petition of April was subsit-

-ted to criticism by several officers of the Government, From a

Wh

very full and able report on it furnished by Mr. C. Ciementi,

Assistant Land Officer of the Northern District of the Territori-

-es and from one by Mr. J. R. Wood, Assistant Land Officer of

the