CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12] — Page 532

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proportionate degree his strictly Police duties became

secondary. On the one hand it has been found that the

greater part of the Police work of the New Territories

must necessarily be conducted direct from Headquarters in

Hongkong (which is in telephones communication), including

such matters as Morning reports, transfers, defaulters and

questions concerning money, so that the duty of inspecting

the various stations from time to time, and the occasional

direction of enquiries in the more serious cases were prac-

tically all the strictly Police duties remaining to the

Assistant Superintendent of Police. On the other hand he

became responsible for the collection of Crown Rents ag-

gregating about $90,000 per annum and of certain Licence

fees amounting to between $7,000 and $8,000 per annum.

The

collection of the Land Revenue is a heavy and onerous task,

involving some three months of incessant work and demanding

an intimate knowledge of both the people and of technical

details.

The District Officer acts as Magistrate, settles

village disputes and disputes between Chinese Railway Con-

tractors and their coolies. It is his duty at all times,

especially when troops are temporarily camped in the New

Territories to safe-guard the interests of the natives, and

to report to Government any irregularity which may come

under his notice.

4. In