Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 126

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some time, experience showed that it had been workel successfully and that the great powers which it conferred were not abused. As a result, the Ordinance was placed permanently on the Statute Book, and Mr. WHITEHEAD was amongst those members of Council who gave their vote in favour of this course.

20. Paragraph 14.-Mr. WHITEHEAD points out that there is no provision in the Ordinance for payment to the person summoned of his expenses in coming to Hongkong, of his stay in Hongkong, of his return; no compensation for his loss of time. As I have previously pointed out, on the two occasions on which inhabitants of the New Territory were brought to Hongkong, they were provided with convey- ance and well looked after. This paragraph seems to infer that in every case in which a person's attendance is desired, he will be brought to Hongkong. There is no such intention. Attendance in Hongkong will be the exception and not the rule, as has hitherto been the case, and if persons are brought to Hongkong, con- veyance as heretofore will be provided and they will be properly cared for.

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21. Mr. WHITEHEAD goes on to say:

"Surely, if the Government has any legitimate enquiries to make it "should carry out these enquiries on the spot, in the village to which

they refer."

"

I have already pointed out that officers regularly visit the various villages, and it stands to reason that if the enquiries made and explanations given locally are satisfactory, no further attendance of persons will be necessary.

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22. Paragraph 15.-There is only one point in this paragraph to which I desire to allude and that is the reference to what Mr. WHITEHEAD calls the "alleged land jobbery in the Colony's New Territories". It is true that there were many rumours on that subject after the New Territory had been taken over and a suggestion was made that a Commission of Enquiry should be appointed. I pointed out on the 3rd May last (see Blue Book despatches and other Papers relating to the Extension of Hongkong. Sessional Paper No. 8, p. 52) that it would be best, in the first intance, for the Land Officer in the New Territory to investigate the matter as he could call upon the landholders in each district to forward to him any complaints they might have to make which could be enquired into on the spot, and that, if after the investigation, a Commission was considered desirable it could be appointed. The Governor concurred in my proposal. On the 12th July the Governor issued a Chinese proclamation regarding land, which was posted throughout the villages in the New Territory. I attach an English version of that Proclamation* and beg to draw special attention to the last paragraph, which is to the following effect :- 'If any one has been forcibly deprived of his land or been fraudu- "lently induced to sell land at a low price he may present a petition to "the District Officer if he lives North of the Kowloon Ranges of Hills, "or if he lives South of it to the Registrar General or his Visiting Officer, "to be forwarded to the Squatters Board for enquiry."

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On the 2nd and 4th August last, the Governor was met by the Committees of the sub-districts at Táipó and Ping Shán, when he concluded his speech on both occasions in the following words :—

"I wish to add a few more words on the subject of land. It has "been reported to me that as soon as the Convention between the Em- "peror of China and the Queen of Great Britain was signed, certain "people were induced to sell their lands at a low value by being told "that the British Government would take possession of the land without "payment when they came into the Territory. I take this opportunity "of telling you, the Elders and Gentry of all the Villages, that if any

* Enclosure No. 3,