Sessional_Paper_1904 — Page 272

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small areas formerly reserved for affording access to these lots. In consideration of the lease of Kowloon Marine Lot 40 being made renewable for a further term of 75

years, the Crown rent was increased from $61 to $100 per acre.

In the case of 108 squatters' holdings at Tai Hang Village, the leases, which were yearly ones, were converted into 75-years' leases on payment of extra premium and Crown rent, and a similar course was followed in the case of a lot at Fuk Tsün Heung which was formerly held on a 7-years' lease.

The following is a statement of the lots converted from Garden into Inland Lots :-

PREVIOUS Lor No.

NEW LOT No.

AREA IN SQUARE FEET.

PREMIUM.

CROWN RENT.

Kowloon Garden Lot 13 25

Kowloon Inland Lot 574-

609

83,824 57,017

$ 419.00 285.00

$ 384.00 262.00

Arrangements were completed for the conversion of Inland Lots 501 and 502 and a portion of Inland Lot 29, situated on Praya East, into Marine Lots with a view to their participation in the projected Reclamation Scheme, but the matter has not yet been definitely concluded.

3. Lease Plans. Plans and particulars (in duplicate) of 208 lots were furnished to the Land Office in connection with the issue of leases.

4. Boundary Stones.-Boundary stones were fixed for 23 lots in Hongkong and 6 in Kowloon.

5. Sites for Booths at the Race-course.-A sum of $1,922.10 was realized by the letting of sites for the erection of booths and stands at Happy Valley during the Race Meeting.

6. Squatters' Licences.-The number of Squatters' licences on the roll at the commencement of the year was 980, representing an annual rental of $2,429.63. During the year, 5 were written off, leaving 975 still on the roll, the fees for which amounted to $2,410.13.

7. Military Lands.-The negotiations between the Colonial Governinent and the Military Authorities, referred to in last year's Report, for an exchange of lands were still unconcluded at the close of the year. Pending a settlement, the Military Authorities were allowed into possession of considerable areas at Pinewood Battery, below High West Gap, and at a point on the Jubilee Road, about a mile beyond the Plague Hospital Arrangements were also made for the construction of new Rifle Ranges behind Kowloon City under the supervision of the Royal Engineers and at the expense of the Colony. This is necessary to enable the present ranges to be relinquished with a view to the formation of the King's Park in Kowloon,

8. Naval Lands-The Admiralty having acquired Kowloon Marine Lot 36, the Crown rent was commuted upon payment of the sum of $12,650 into the Treasury, as already mentioned. An area of about 4 acres of land, mostly hillside, on the promontory west of Lai Chi Kok Bay, was placed at the disposal of the Naval Authorities in connection with the establishment of a Torpedo Range in that neighbourhood.

9. Piers. The right of erecting piers under long leases was granted in 3 cases in Hongkong and in 4 in Kowloon, whilst extensions of 2 piers formerly sanctioned in Hongkong were also granted. The premia derived in the case of Hongkong piers amounted to $9,357.50 and of Kowloon piers to $6.050, the annual rentals being $1,170 and $780 respectively. Licences for the following temporary piers for various periods were issued:-11 in Hongkong, 14 in Kowloon and 5 in the New Territory, the amount of fees payable for these being $2,615.

10. Granite Quarries-As the result of an inspection of the quarries in the New Territory, it was found that the rentals charged were much below those in the case of the Hongkong and Kowloon Quarries and arrangements were therefore made to increase the former in 1904 from $3,725 to $15,000 per annum; leases for periods of 3 years at these rentals being granted. Very extensive quarrying operations are now carried on, notably at Cha' Kwo Leng, Lyeemun and Ngau Tau Kok.