13
within 30 years, perpetual leases at low rentals and leases for short terms of 5 to 10 years. Red deeds are the only deeds of which the Government takes cognisance and the Crown Rent is collected on these deeds only.'
We need not consider further the details of the Chinese deeds and their system of registration since Lockhart reported-
"Although the system of land registration adopted by the Chinese is apparently simple, the difficulties that have been experienced in connection with it show it to be of the most unsatisfactory nature, especially as not much reliance can be placed upon the accuracy of any title deeds registered under it.
15
The expedient adopted by the Hong Kong Government to resolve these difficulties is well-known, a Land Court was set up to hear claims to tenure of land and those established were confirmed by the Government and recorded as Block Crown Leases, commonly known as "Old Schedule Plots.'
11
Lockhart in his Report described the Chinese method of Land measurement:-
"Owners or occupiers report their land in mau or Chinese acres, but as it has not been the general custom in the districts to calculate the area of land by mau, but rather by the amount of grain required to sow a field, they also report the area of their land in this manner, two and a half tau of grain being equivalent to one mau (0.1515 English acre)
But even this tau varies in different localities. The Kun Tau or Chinese official standard measure of 10 shing, is adopted at Taipo, in Sheung Shui District and at Sha Tau Kok. The Ts'ong Tau or grain measure of 11 shing, is used throughout the Fanling District. The Tsin Tau of 8 shing is employed in the Tsuen Wan and some other Districts..
As to hill and waste land the Memorandum reads:-
"All hills and waste lands are claimed by the nearest villages or most powerful clans in the neighbourhood or even at a distance.
13
within 30 years, perpetual leases at low rentals and leases for short terms of 5 to 10 years. Red deeds are the only deeds of which the GovernmentTM takes cognisance and the Crown Rent is collected on these deeds only.'
We need not consider further the details of the Chinese deeds and their system of registration since Lockhart reported-
"Although the system of land registration adopted by the Chinese is apparently simple, the difficulties that have been experienced in connection with it show it to be of the most unsatisfactory nature, especially as not much reliance can be placed upon the accuracy of any title deeds registered under 11.
15
The expedient adopted by the Hong Kong Government to resolve these difficulties is well-known, a Land Court was set up to hear claims to tenure of land and those established were confirmed by the Government and recorded as Block Crown Leases, commonly known as "Old Schedule Plots.'
11
Lockhart in his Report described the Chinese method of Land measurement:-
"Owners or occupiers report their land in maus or Chinese acres, but as it has not been the general custom in the districts to calculate the area of land by maus, but rather by the amount of grain required to sow a field, they also report the area of their land in this manner, two and a half tau of grain being equivalent to one mau (0.1515 English acre)
But even this tau varies in different localties. The Kun Tau or Chinese official standard measure of 10 shing, is adopted at Taipo, in Sheung U District and at Shat’au-kok. The Ts'ong Tau or grain measure of 11 shing, is used throughout the Un Long District. The Tsin Tau of 8 shing is employed in the Ts'un Wan and some other Districts ..
As to hill and waste land the Memorandum reads:-
"All hills and waste lands are claimed by the nearest villages or most powerful clans in the neighbourhood or even at a distance.
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