138
NOTES AND QUERIES
The question then arose as to what party had legal title to the land. Had the Government acquired title to the land by terms of the Cession of the Island of Hong Kong, or was the Government bound to recognize the title of the original Chinese owners? The island of Hong Kong had belonged to the Tang family, but the small island belonged to the Wong clan who gave it to the Chan clan and allowed them to erect the temple. Unfortunately all the ancient records and title deeds held by the Chan clan had been destroyed in the typhoon of 1874.
Apparently the temple had been repaired in 1877, for in that year the Public Works Department had given the caretaker permission to erect a temporary structure near the present temple to store images while repairs were going on. The Land Office had granted a squatter's license to the Worship Committee to occupy the site.
Owing to the dispute which arose in 1893 between the Chan clan and the residents of Ap Lei Chau, the Worship Committee and the Kai Fong of Ap Lei Chau petitioned the Government for a grant of a Crown Lease for the site of the temple. The petition states,
That the Temple was established almost a hundred years ago and has conferred many benefits on the surrounding inhabitants...
That after restoration, the Temple was entrusted to the care of Chan Kwai [Chan A-kwai] by general consent.
That unwittingly this man turned out to be of a bad heart, unboundedly avaricious.
That he frequently exhorted [sic] the people who went to Worship, and for this he was expelled by consensus of the people at a Public Meeting.
That first before he was expelled he being aware of the attitude of the populace towards him, purloined goods belonging to the Temple, and took with him all the Squatter Licenses and went to live on Chinese soil.
That as the Temple was erected by the populace, Your Honour's humble petitioners venture to think that it should be managed by the voice of the populace..
138
NOTES AND QUERIES
The question then arose as to what party had legal title to the land. Had the Government acquired title to the land by terms of the Cession of the Island of Hong Kong, or was the Government bound to recognize the title of the original Chinese owners? The island of Hong Kong had belonged to the Tang family, but the small island belonged to the Wong clan who gave it to the Chan clan and allowed them to erect the temple. Unfortunately all the ancient records and title deeds held by the Chan clan had been destroyed in the typhoon of 1874.
Apparently the temple had been repaired in 1877, for in that year the Public Works Department had given the caretaker per- mission to erect a temporary structure near the present temple to store images while repairs were going on. The Land Office had granted a squatter's license to the Worship Committee to occupy the site.
Owing to the dispute which arose in 1893 between the Chan clan and the residents of Ap Lei Chau, the Worship Committee and the Kai Fong of Ap Lei Chau petitioned the Government for a grant of a Crown Lease for the site of the temple. The petition states,
That the Temple was established almost a hundred years ago and has conferred many benefits on the surrounding inhabitants...
That after restoration, the Temple was entrusted to the care of Chan Kwai [Chan A-kwai] by general consent.
That unwittingly this man turned out to be of a bad heart, unboundedly avaricious.
That he frequently exhorted [sic] the people who went to Worship, and for this he was expelled by concensus of the people at a Public Meeting.
That first before he was expelled he being aware of the atti- tude of the populace towards him, purloined goods belonging to the Temple, and took with him all the Squatter Licenses and went to live on Chinese soil.
That as the Temple was erected by the populace, Your Honour's humble petitioners venture to think that it should be managed by the voice of the populace..
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