THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND MAY, 1891.
353
sion" has been appointed to investigate titles to land and grant leases where a good claim can be established. The term "Squatter" is somewhat loosely applied and is frequently used as including all the Chinese inhabitants of the villages who do not hold land under Crown lease. Now a con- siderable proportion of the inhabitants in the older villages are entered on the "Rent Roll" thus showing that the holdings of which they are in possession were held by them or their predecessors at the time of the British occupation. These people cannot therefore be called "Squatters" in any true sense of the word. After those entered on the Rent Roll come persons holding land under squatters' licence. The squatters' licence is nothing more or less than an annual tenancy with power of removal on a month's notice. It is in my opinion desirable that an inquiry should be made as to what extent it is desirable to continue the system of squatters' licence and whether in certain cases a more certain tenure with security for improvements might not be granted with advantage.
VI.-INSPECTION OF BUILDINGS.
A
37. The following is a list of the number of buildings for which plans have been deposited and which have been completed during the year 1890:-
Plans Buildings deposited. completed.
European Houses, ......
Chinese Houses,
Factories, Godowns, and Miscellaneous Structures,
Total,
34
42
188
204
47
29
269
275
:
During the year 1,165 notices and permits have been issued through the Inspector of Buildings.
VII-STAFF.
38. At the commencement of the year the water and drainage works were detached from the Surveyor General and converted into a separate department. Mr. COOPER, however, continued to assist in the work of the Surveyor General's Office until the arrival of Mr. H. P. TOOKER, Executive Engineer, in April last. Mr. W. CHATHAM, Executive Engineer, arrived on 22nd May, and Mr. L. GIBBS, Assistant Engineer, and Mr. C. H. GALE, Chief Draughtsman, on 10th November. These reinforcements have enabled me to commence several of the new works referred to in the earlier portion of this Report, and to prepare for the early commencement of others. I beg to record my satisfaction with the manner in which both the old and new Members of the Staff generally have performed their duties.
39. The general health of the Officials of the Department has been good until the latter part of the year when an unusual amount of sickness occurred which has somewhat retarded the operations of the Department.
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40. I have deemed it desirable to have returns prepared showing the number of men employed weekly on Government works. Much difficulty was at first experienced in obtaining these returns with any degree of accuracy, as it was not the practice of the Department to keep them in the past. The numbers have gradually increased during the year until during the months of November and December they varied from 3,000 to 3,300. It would appear that latterly this Department has been the largest employer of labour in the Colony. These returns do not include the men employed pre- paring stone in the quarries nor those on water and drainage works. If to these were added natives working on the fortifications under the Royal Engineers, in the Naval Yard, and for other Govern- ment departments, it would be seen that a very considerable proportion of the native labour of the Colony is dependent on Government work.
ELECTRIC Light.
41. I may add that the Electric Light Company have during the year constructed their works at Wanchai and 50 Arc Lamps each of 2,000 candle power have been installed in the central portion of the City. They were first lighted on 1st December and will shortly be supplemented by 25 additional lamps, making a total of 75, which will suffice to light the main streets in the central and eastern portion of Victoria.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient Servant,
S. BROWN, Surveyor General.
The Honourable
THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
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