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REPORT FROM THE LAND COMMISSION OF 1886-87.
"I feel assured, upon attentive reflection, that steady adherence to this rule will be found most conducive to the well understood interests of the establishment, and to the fair claims of persons on the spot.
Parties falling within the description I have specified, not yet supplied with lots, will soon be in a situation to accommodate themselves.
May I request you, Gentlemen, to circulate this letter.-I have, &c.,
"Messrs. JARDINE, MATHESON & Co., and Messrs. DENT & Co."
[Hongkong Gazette, June 25th, 1855.]
(Signed),
CHARLES ELLIOT,
It would appear from the following Government Notification that in the interval between the sale of 14th June, 1841, and the 15th October following, it was determined to sell lots of land for building purposes at fixed rates of annual rental without public competition.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION of 15th October, 1841.
"1. With reference to the Public Notice and declaration under date the 1st May, 1841, it is now found desirable that persons applying for lots of land for the purpose of building upon, should be at once accommodated upon terms which will be made known to them by application in person to the Land Officer.
#4
Hongkong, 15th October, 1841."
(Signed), A. R. JOHNSTON, Deputy Superintendent charged with the Government of the Island of Hongkong.
The terms of sale referred to in this Notification were the average rate of rental realised at the sale on the 14th June, 1841, and at the rate of £20 per annum per quarter acre for Town Inland Lots and £5 per quarter acre for Suburban Inland Lots.
Owing to the uncertain description of the lots sold, the claims made for allotments of land, the alteration, curtailment and enlargement of boundaries by the making of new roads, and the uncertain tenure upon which the land was to be held, difficulties began to arise in the following year, when the then Governor Sir HENRY POTTINGER issued a Notification as follows:--
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION OF 22nd March, 1842.
"His Excellency Sir HENRY POTTINGER, Bart., Her Britannic Majesty's Plenipotentiary, &c., deems it expedient to intimate to all persons interested in the subject. that it is his intention to appoint very shortly, a Committee consisting of not less than three members, to investigate any claim that may yet be pending, regarding allotted locations of ground of whatever description and finally to define and mark off the limits of all locations that have yet been sold or granted upon any other
terms.
"The Committee will likewise definitely fix the direction, breadth, &c., &c., of the "Queen's" and all other public roads, within the settlement, and will be empowered to order the immediate removal of any encroachments that may be found to have been unauthorizedly made upon them, the expense of such removals being chargeable to the individuals, to whom the locations, in which they have been made belong.
"The Committee will further be instructed to turn its attention to the examination of the best points for laying down new lines of roads, beyond those that have already been marked off, with a view of providing locations, to meet the demands that may be expected from the rapidly increasing population of the Colony, both European and Native; and any suggestions that individuals may wish to offer on this part of the Committee's proceedings will receive from it the fullest consideration, but it is at the same time expressly notified that no purchases of ground by private persons, from natives formerly or now in possession, will be recognized or confirmed unless the previous sanction of the constituted authorities shall have been obtained, it being the basis of the footing on which the Island of Hongkong has been taken possession of, and is to be held pending the Queen's Royal and Gracious Commands, that the proprietory of the soil is vested and appertains solely to the Crown. On the same principle, the reclaiming of land beyond high water mark, must be deemed an infringement on the Royalties of Her Majesty, and it is therefore positively prohibited by any private persons.
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.
"Hongkong, Government House, this 22nd March, 1849
igned),
HENRY POTTINGER.
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