# THE BEGINNINGS OF TAIPINGSHAN
77
Office's records had fallen owing to non-registration of transactions (it being by then more or less necessary for a purchaser to take a chance on the title to land offered to him by a vendor), a strenuous effort was made to regularise the situation and much "squatting" without title and consequently, in most cases, non-payment of Crown Rent, came to light.
The end for old Taipingshan came not in the 1880's but in the 1890's when Bubonic Plague was brought to the Colony from West China. The most virulent reservoir of the bacillus turned out to be Taipingshan. The only solution, not only to the problem of stamping out the plague but also to other forms of social offence given by the district, was to remove the Chinese town physically. This was done by powers given in the Taipingshan Resumption Ordinance of 1894, and the result was wholesale demolition of much property and re-aligning of old and construction of new roads. Taipingshan had to be razed and, fortunately for Hong Kong, never rose again in its former glory.
University of London, 1968.
DAFYDD EMRYS Evans
Mr. Evans is Professor of Law in the University of Hong Kong. Two of his earlier contributions to the early history of Hong Kong appeared in the Notes and Queries section of the 1968 Journal.
NOTES
1 The area was known as Taipingshan from the early days of the colony and its name is not derived from its function as a refuge for T'ai Ping rebels in later years.
2 See Gordon (Land Officer) to Pottinger, CO129/Vol II, f. 152,
3 See Gordon to Malcolm (Colonial Secretary), CO129/Vol. II, f. 138 dated 6 July 1843.
4 The rents for both the Upper and Lower Bazaar Lots represented the same rate per square foot as that charged by Johnston for Town Lots.
5 But the Chinese were turning to the use of brick rather than wood by the end of 1841; see Canton Press, 19 February 1842.
6 Gordon to Pottinger, 19 December 1843; CO129, Vol. II, p. 445.
7 Davis to Stanley 26 July 1844; CO129, Vol. VI, p. 435.
8 Woosnam (Pottinger's private secretary) to Gordon, 10 January 1844: CO129, Vol. V. p. 69.
THE BEGINNINGS OF TAIPINGSHAN
77
Office's records had fallen owing to non-registration of transactions (it being by then more or less necessary for a purchaser to take a chance on the title to land offered to him by a vendor), a strenuous effort was made to regularise the situation and much "squatting" without title and consequently, in most cases, non-payment of Crown Rent, came to light.
The end for old Taipingshan came not in the 1880's but in the 1890's when Bubonic Plague was brought to the Colony from West China. The most virulent reservoir of the bacillus turned out to be Taipingshan. The only solution, not only to the problem of stamping out the plague but also to other forms of social offence given by the district, was to remove the Chinese town physically. This was done by powers given in the Taipingshan Resumption Ordinance of 1894, and the result was wholesale demolition of much property and re-aligning of old and construction of new roads. Taipingshan had to be razed and, fortunately for Hong Kong, never rose again in its former glory.
University of London, 1968.
DAFYDD EMRYS Evans
Mr. Evans is Professor of Law in the University of Hong Kong. Two of his earlier contributions to the early history of Hong Kong appeared in the Notes and Queries section of the 1968 Journal.
NOTES
1 The grea was known as Taipingshan from the early days of the colony and its name is not derived from its function as a refuge for T'ai Ping rebels in later years.
2 See Gordon (Land Officer) to Pottinger, CO 129/Vol II, f. 152,
3 See Gordon to Malcolm (Colonial Secretary), CO 129/Vol. II, f. 138 dated 6 July 1843.
4 The rents for both the Upper and Lower Bazaar Lots represented the same rate per square foot as that charged by Johnston for Town Lots.
5 But the Chinese were turning to the use of brick rather than wood by the end of 1841; see Canton Press, 19 February 1842.
6 Gordon to Pottinger, 19 December 1843; C.O. 129, Vol. II, p. 445.
7 Davis to Stanley 26 July 1844; C.O. 129, Vol. VI, p. 435.
8 Woosnam (Pottinger's private secretary) to Gordon, 10 January 1844: C.O. 129, Vol. V. p. 69.
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