REPORT FROM THE LAND COMMISSION OF 1886-87.
XIX
In June, 1875, another Commission was appointed consisting of the Attorney General, the Acting Treasurer, Mr. PHINEAS RYRIE, Mr. HENRY LOWсock and the Surveyor General to inquire into the alleged magnitude of Crown Rents in various parts of the City owing to the complaints which had, from time to time, been made to the Government by the holders of Crown Lands in the less populous parts of the Colony, that the rents were out of proportion to the real value of the lands, so that they could not turn the lands to profitable account, or to advantage, to the injury of the complainants and to the hindrance of the general progress of the Colony.
The Commissioners, however, reported that no reduction of Crown Rents would appreciably affect the diminished value of property in certain portions of the City.
These complaints have, however, with returning prosperity ceased, and in no single instance has any complaint, as to excessive Crown Rents, been made to the Commissioners.
The sales of Crown Land which have taken place since the year 1869, have been at a fixed annual rent with an upset price, the highest bidder above the upset price being declared the purchaser at the fixed annual rent.
ACREAGE OF HONGKONG.
The acreage of Hongkong has been estimated to be as follows:-
Acres
cultivated.
Acres
uncultivated.
Total.
Hongkong (exclusive of Victoria,)
406
16,796
17,202
Victoria,
Kowloon,......
412
1,309
900
1,721
Stonecutters' Island,.......
192
192
Totals,
818
18,297
20,015
These figures, however, are only estimate 1 in so far as they relate to the cultivated area, and the inquiries of the Commissioners would lead them to believe that the lands actually in possession of villagers, squatters, and trespassers, &c. greatly exceed the estimate.
NUMBERS AND RENTALS OF LEASED LOTS ANd the Houses Standing UPON THEM.
The following shows the number and description of leased lots with their rental as existing on the 25th December, 1886 :---
Marine Lots, (for 999 years),
Inland Lots, (,, 999 },
12
Quarry Bay, Marine, (for 999 years),
No.
276
Annual Rental. $62,143.69
947
71,019.63
1
2,534.44
Victoria Farm,
(,, 75
},
42
1,067.88
Rural Building,
(19 75
**
),
43
3,013.01
Aberdeen, Marine, ( 999
""
19.
),
579.16
"}
Inland, (,, 999
""
},
56
329.36
Apleechow, Marine, (,, 999
Inland, ( (,, 999
"
Sowkewan Lots, ( 999 Stanley, Inland,
Kowloon, Marine, (,, 999
22
},
19
142.26
11.
},
19
186.84
91
,,
1,087.50
(„ 75
},
1
1.00
17
),
15
10,748.85
Inland,
75
113
3,270.35
**
>>
*}
Farm, (,, 999
};
9
240.37
Garden, ("
14
),
68
2,017.32
71
Hunghom, Inland, („,
75
""
),
143
1,139.00
Total,...
.1,847
$159,520.66
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