Sessional_Paper_1900 — Page 263

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When it is remembered that great confusion has existed in the matter of land in the New Territory for years and that disputes and family feuds have been general in consequence, it is not surprising that. now an endeavour is being made to adjust all difficulties and to introduce a well-ordered system, there should be many cases requiring re-adjustment by the Government,

The Government has come to the conclusion that such disputes can be most easily and readily dealt with by a Land Court, especially established for the purpose, and it is hoped that such a Court will shortly be created by law, as it cannot fail to be a great boon to the inhabitants of the New Territory.

BOTANICAL AND AFFORESTATION DEPARTMENT,

I attach a brief report (see Appendix No. XII) from Mr. FORD, Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department, which shows that steps have already been taken to protect trees in the New Territory. At the suggestion of Mr. FORD, a notice was issued in Chinese (see Appendix No. XII), urging the people not to cut down the old trees which surround most villages.

The result of the notice has proved satisfactory. With a view to encouraging the cultivation of sugar cane, the Governor obtained two Chattanooga Sugar Mills from America. Trials have been made with these mills, at which sugar cane growers were present. They expressed themselves as satisfied with the superiority of the new mills over their own mills, and it is not improbable that in time the Chattanooga Mill will supplant the native mill, when the natives realise that the former effects a saving in labour and produces more satisfactory results than the later.

Improved varieties of sugar cane are being obtained from Java, the Straits Settlements and Honolulu, and arrangements have been made for cultivating them when received.

Pine-apple is largely grown in the New Territory especially in the neighbour- hood of Ts'iin Wan, where a Cannery for canning the fruit of the pines has been started.

A superior variety of Pine-apple has been introduced from Ceylon by Mr. FORD for distribution among the growers of the plant.

PUBLIC WORKS.

I attach a memorandum (Appendix No. XIII) from the Director of Public Works, showing the work done by his Department in the New Territory during 1899.

The chief work on which the Director of Public Works has been engaged is that of the Main Road from British Kowloon to Táipó, which was cominenced immediately after the territory had been taken over. The only means of communica- tion hitherto existing between Hongkong and the newly leased area has been by sea, which in bad weather is impracticable, and by a rough footpath over a pass about 1,000 feet high from Kowloon to Shá-t'in, situated on an arm of Mirs Bay. There can be little doubt that the construction of this road, which is desirable both for strategical and administrative purposes, will bring the New Territory into closer relations with Hongkong proper, and will lead to an increase in traffic.

A reference to paragraph 8 of the memorandum of the Director of Public Works will show that good progress has been made with this work, six miles being already open to traffic.

Communication between British Kowloon and Kowloon City has been im- proved by the extension of the Hunghom Road on the East side of the Kowloon peninsula to Kowloon City. This work has been almost completed.

Telephone lines have been laid for a distance of about thirty miles, connecting British Kowloon with Kowloon City, Shá-t'in, Táipó, Futi Au, Sheung Shui, Au-t'au, and Ping-shán. The lines will be further extended to Shat'au-kok. The thanks of Government are due to the Royal Engineers for having laid the line between Kowloon City, Táipó and Futi Au.

The Public Works Department has also been kept busy during the year in erecting permanent Police Stations and providing temporary quarters for the executive staff and the Police.

A permanent Police Station has been completed and occupied at Táipó. The permanent stations at Au-t'au and P'ing-shán are almost ready for occupation.

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