Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 131

127

( 21 )

come in when invited without our having to resort to this power. With reference to the suggestion of the Honourable Member that this Bill should have a duration clause, I think it is a very fair suggestion. I shall have no objection whatever to it. I hope that, in a short time, the necessity for any such Ordinance as this will disappear.

The Council then went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause.

On the suggestion of the Honourable Dr. Ho KAI, seconded by the Honourable WEI A YUK, the following clause was added to the Bill:-"This Ordinance "shall continue in operation for a period of two years from the coming into opera- "tion of this Ordinance, and for such further period or periods as may from time "time be determined by resolution of the Legislative Council."

The Bill passed through commitee and the Council resumed.

(Enclosure No. 3 in Colonial Secretary's Memorandum of the 15th January, 1900.)

ENGLISH VERSION

OF

CHINESE PROCLAMATION ISSUED BY HIS EXCELLENCY

SIR HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, GOVERNOR, &c.

I, Sir HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice Admiral of the same, hereby inform you, the landowners in the New Territories, that an Officer will visit the sub-districts for the purpose of registering landowners on a date due notice of which will be given to you. All you who can show that you have had possession of landed property for some time must fill up a schedule in the follow- ing form :-

1. Name of owner.

2. Nature of title.

3. Date of lease or grant (if any).

4. Number of years in occupation.

5. Description of land.

6. Dimensions of land.

7. Situation of land.

When these schedules are distributed to a village, any person who claims land as his property must fill up a schedule and bring it in person to the Visiting Officer, when he comes to the village in which such person resides; and the Officer will make an entry in the register that such person is the owner and will add such other particulars as may be necessary. A list of those who have been registered as landowners in the village and of their holdings will be posted in the village for seven days, and afterwards an extract of the entry of each holding will be made to be handed to the owner. But before it is handed to the owner he must pay the amount of Crown Rent fixed as due by him. If no Rent is paid, the land will be forfeited to the Government without fail.