Sessional_Paper_1886-1887 — Page 467

X

THE

REPORT FROM THE LAND COMMISSION OF 1886-87.

THE SYSTEM OF SELLING AND GRANTING CROWN LANDS

UPON LEASE OR OTHERWISE.

The disposition of Crown Lands by sale commenced with the earliest days of the Colony. Pos- session was taken of the Island of Hongkong on behalf of the Crown on the 26th January, 1841, and on the 1st May of the same year, the following public notice of the first land sale and declaration of the conditions upon which allotments of land would be made, was published by Captain (afterwards Sir CHARLES) ELLIOT, the then "Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British subjects in China, and holding full powers, under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, to execute the Office of Her Majesty's Commissioner, Procurator, and Plenipotentiary in China."

PUBLIC NOTICE AND DECLARATION OF 1ST MAY. 1841.

"The following Notice is published for general information. But the necessary particulars not having yet been obtained regarding the portions of land already surveyed, the blanks relating to number and extent of allotments and period of sale, cannot yet be filled up.

"Arrangements having been made for the permanent occupation of the Island of Hongkong it has become necessary to declare the principles and conditions upon which allotments of land will be made, pending Her Majesty's further pleasure.

"With a view to the reservation to the Crown of as extensive a control over the lands as may be compatible with the immediate progress of the establishment, it is now declared that the number of allotments to be disposed of from time to time will be regulated with due regard to the actual public

wants.

"It will be a condition of each title that a building of a certain value, hereafter to be fixed, must be erected within a reasonable period of time on the allotments; and there will be a general reservation of all Her Majesty's rights. Pending Her Majesty's further pleasure the lands will be allotted accord- ing to the principles and practice of British laws upon the tenure of quit rent to the Crown.

"Each allotment to be put up at public auction at a certain upset rate of quit rent and to be disposed of to the highest bidder; but it is engaged upon the part of Her Majesty's Government, that persons taking land upon these terms shall have the privilege of purchasing in freehold (if that tenure shall hereafter be offered by Her Majesty's Government), or of continuing to hold upon the original quit rent, if that condition be better liked.

"All arrangements with natives for the cession of lands, in cultivation, or substantially built upon, to be made only through an officer deputed by the Government of the Island; and no title will be valid, and no occupancy respected, unless the person claiming shall hold under an instrument granted by the Government of the Island, of which due registry must be made in the Government Office.

"It is distinctly to be understood, that all natives, in the actual occupancy of lands, in cultivation, or substantially built upon, will be constrained to establish their rights, to the satisfaction of the land officer, and to take out titles, and have the same duly registered.

town

"In order to accelerate the establishment, notice is hereby given, that a sale of allotments, having a water frontage of yards, and running back yards, will take place at Macao on the instant, by which time, it is hoped, plans, exhibiting the water front of the town, will be prepared.

"Persons purchasing town lots will be entitled to purchase suburban or country lots of square acres each, and will be permitted, for the present, to choose their own sites, subject to the approval of the Government of the Island.

"No run of water to be diverted from its course without permission of the Government.

"Macao, 1st May, 1841."

[Hongkong Gazette, 1st and 15th May, 1841.]

(Signed),

"CHARLES ELLIOT."

On the 7th June, 1841, a Notice under the hand of Sir CHARLES ELLIOT was advertised of the proposed sale of the annual quit rents of 100 lots of land with water frontage and of 100 town or suburban lots, as follows:--

PUBLIC NOTICE OF 7TH JUNE, 1841.

Notice is hereby given, that a sale of the annual quit rent of 100 lots of land having water frontage will take place at Hongkong, on Saturday, the 12th instant, as also of 100 town or suburban lots. The dimensions of the respective lots will be specified and defined on the spot by the Com- manding Officer of Engineers, to whom parties are referred for further particulars.