Sessional_Paper_1901 — Page 569

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Enclosure No. 1.

See Appendix No. 1+

in Enclosure No. 1.

Sec Report.

Appendix No. 2, page 17.

HONGKONG.

REPORT ON THE NEW TERRITORY FOR THE YEAR 1900

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of

His Excellency the Governor.

No. 304.

SIR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 12th August, 1991.

I have the honour to forward for your information a report furnished by th Colonial Secretary, Mr. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, on the operations in the Ne Territory during the year 1900.

2. I had hoped that the collection of revenue might have been in a more fr ward state, but the report by Mr. GOMPERTZ of the working of the Land Cot shows the difficulties of dealing with these small plots and defining the rights of i occupier, the family, the clan, and the Crown. It is possible that a certain ar of revenue might have been got in by rough and ready methods, but there w have been much injustice to individuals-indeed an attempt was made to co upon a system of averages, Crown Rent upon claims that had been lodged, result being complaints from several people that they had been compelled to two and three times the amounts claimable from them under the terms of Cro Rent as gazetted and notified. Finding that this was true I ordered the mo paid in excess to be refunded, and determined that it is better not to pres payment until we have the different plots properly entered and registered. slower, but will save much trouble in the future. I attach a copy of ano report of Mr. GoMPERTZ's decision as to ownership in the small Island of Ts'i that will illustrate the intricacy of the claims put forward to the Land Court.

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3. I hope to be able to reduce the number of Police in the New The .' immediately. Since the late abortive rebellion in the Wai Chon dist subj northern portion of Shun Chun Valley has been in a disorderly conditâ fid several robberies have been efected in our territory by bands from / ́ld ha border. At my request the Viceroy of Canton, who has shown the utm ness to assist in securing the peace of that district, has ordered that tr be stationed at various points along the frontier. I hope that this will effect of putting a stop to the trouble, and enable me to reduce our Polic more modest dimensions.

t t

4. Unhappily we find the whole of the New Territory inalarious. ments are now being tried of different treatment at different stations and r are being carefully kept. At one station quinine is administered as a prophy after Dr. KocH's advice, i.e., 15 grains two days running and then an intery seven days before repetition. At another, 5 grain doses are given daily; at a t arsenic is given instead, &c., &c. Wire gauze windows are being added to tions, but as the men are out almost every night on patrol duty I fear that ti will not suffice as a preventive measure.

5. The question of an experimental garden must remain ove unt FORD'S return, but I question if the low lying land can be made to produ paying crops than at present. The fresh sugar canes imported last year a well, but, so far, the working of the improved steel mills does not meet approval of the farmers, the principal complaint being that they break up so finely as to make it useless for fuel. They do not yet realize the wast half crushed cane for fuel, and probably do not quite understand the the mills. This will come later on.

The Right Honourable

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,

&c..

&c.

$0.