Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 332

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ADJUSTMENT OF BOUNDARIES.

Twenty Inland Lots, one Rural Building Lot, and one Garden Lot in Hongkong; one Marine Lot, four Inland Lots, and Hung Hom Inland Lot at Kowloon have had their boundaries re-adjusted with slight increases in premium and Crown Rent. The total area of these different lots show that 33,235 square feet, annual rental $114, and premium $156.30, have been dealt with. In Kowloon one Marine Lot 48, four Inland Lots, viz.. 394, 910, 911, and 912, and one Lot at Hung Hom 219, have had their boundaries re-adjusted increasing them by a total of 132,297 square feet, additional Crown Rent $1,984, and additional premium $5,003.70.

Three thousand and eight bundred square feet of Kowloon Marine Lot No. 39 were resumed in order to permit of Reclamation Street, Yau Ma Ti, being widened to 50 feet, the owners of the lot were compensated to the amount of $2,280, and their Crown Rent reduced by $27.00.

The exclusive right to use a pier at Yau Ma Ti was put up to public competition, and realized a monthly rental of $105.

The number of squatters' licenses on the roll on 1st January, 1900, was 1,112, and the fees recoverable $3,104.98; 89 were written off during the year representing a rent of $388.89 leaving 1.023 licenses on the roll at the close of the year. Out of the 1,023 licenses, 8 have now to be cancelled although paid for 1900, the licensees having been granted Crown Leases. The total number of squatters' licenses for 1901 will be 1,015 paying $2,699.23.

SURVEY BRANCH.

The demand for land, as evidenced by the large sales effected, neccssitated an unusual amount of work in the survey branch.

Special surveys were also made, one in connection with extension of water storage in Tytam Valley, a re-survey of Wong Nei Cheong reservoir in order to ascertain the exact storage capacity, aud a survey of the Military Reserve North of Austin Road, Kowloon. In all it is estimated that nearly 1,000 acres were surveyed.

WORK UNDER THE BUILDING ORDINANCE.

5. Plans were deposited for 148 European and 752 Chinese houses, and for 1,332 Miscellaneous structures. Certificates were granted under section 52 of Ordinance 15 of 1889 for 368 houses, and permission was given for the erection of 227 Verandahs.

6. Notices relating to structures in a dangerous condition were served in 225 cases, and 1.680 notices and permits of a miscellaneous nature were issued. 74 permits were granted for the erection. or repair of monuments in the Colonial Cemetery, the fees on account of which amounted to $291.16.

7. Private buildings have been going up very rapidly both in Hongkong and in British Kow- loon, there was probably never such activity in the building trade before, and this, in spite of greatly enhanced prices of all materials and of wages. Many new and handsome houses designed for Euro- pean occupation have been completed on MacDonnell Road and elsewhere, but as the wealthier Chinese now purchase and occupy such houses, and are willing to pay enormous prices for them, the scarcity of houses for Europeans increases and rents still go up.

8. Large blocks of land have been sold with the express condition that only European honses should be erected thereon, and a very great number of such buildings were completed and came into use in 1900, while others in the Happy Valley are nearing completion. But there is no law by which such buildings can be reserved for European occupation, so the relief in rents is not felt.

ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE.

9. Works under this heading, which have been directly under the control of Mr. H. P. Tooker, Senior Executive Engineer and Acting Assistant Director of Public Works, during Mr. CHATHAM'S absence, are reported on by that Officer as follows:-

MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS.

1. The Public Buildings of the Colony and those in the New Territory, with the exception of some of the Old Cus-

toms Stations, the total number on the list being 151, were maintained in fair order during the year.

2. A portion of Government House was re-coloured and painted internally, and the jalousies re-varnished, the veran

dah roof was also repaired.

3. The Government Civil Hospital was repainted externally at an expenditure of over $2,000; much defective timber

was also renewed.

4. The Medical Staff Quarters were thoroughly painted, colourwashed and repaired.

5. The Maternity Hospital was painted and colourwashed.

6. Queen's College was colourwashed externally and a quantity of nut-eaton timber renewed.

7. The Harbour Office was thoroughly overhauled, painted and coloured.

8. Shek Tong Tsui Market was thoroughly repainted and colourwashed.

9. The Magistracy was repainted externally and repaired and colourwashed internally.

10. The Western Market received extensive repairs and was limewhited and tarred throughout.

11. No. 8 Police Station was provided with new Cook Houses.

12. The Government Offices were painted externally.

13. Belilios School was thoroughly repaired and painted.

14. Yau Ma Ti and Mount Gough Police Stations were generally repaired and painted.

15. The Observatory, Kowloon, received general repairs.

16. Other buildings which underwent repairs, painting, &c., during the year were:-Sai Ying Pun Market, Soo Kun Po Market, Central Police Station, Quarters at Victoria Gaol, Sheep and Swine Depôts, No. 1 Police Station, No. 3 Police Station, Wanchai School, Aberbeen Police Station, Water Police Station, No. 6 Police Station, Peak Signal Station, and Kau Pai Shek Old Custoins Station.