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The claims to large tracts have for the most part on investigation proved un- tenable, while the Tax-collecting families or "Taxlords", as we have called them, have, where they can show documents in support of their income or of any part of it, been provided for in ways appropriate to each case on recommendations of the

Court.

The Rent Recoveries Ordinance.

13. As an outcome of the Taxlord question, there arose a general unwilling- ness to pay rents in the New Territories. To relieve this situation the Rent Re- coveries Ordinance (14 of 1902) was passed empowering the Land Court to en- force payment of rents. Between 10th of June, 1902, the date of the passing of the Ordinance, and the 7th August, 1903, the date of its repeal, 156 suits were filed in the Court, of which 46, were decided. These decisions were by some parties regarded as test cases for others on the list.

General Progress.

14. It will have been seen that it is impossible to give any graphic idea of the judicial results achieved by the Land Court-District by District until the final year (1904). The Full Court dealt continuously with the valuable property in New Kow- loon. One case (No. 23, known as the Cheung Sha Wan Case engaged the atten- tion of the Full Court from the beginning of 1903 until Mr. DENNYS resigned on 12th May, when it was still unfinished. In consequence of this resignation, the case was re-opened, the second hearing being lengthened by the admission of Solicitors, and it was not until the 18th February, 1904, that judgment was delivered by Mr. GOMPERTZ. In intervals between Full Court Sittings, Mr. GOMPERTZ dealt with disputed claims in Islands near Hongkong; and on visits of inspection to the office at Tai Po, he gave such decisions as time would allow. How the residue of dis- putes and the mass of undisputed material were dealt with, has been shewn in the separate reports appended to this paper. Generally as to the speed of the work of the Land Court it is gratifying to note that while the Indian Survey Staff returned to India in May, 1904, the Land Court was able to submit its final report at the close of the same year.

Statistics of Demarcation; Branch Offices; Cost and Appeals.

15. I have drawn up the following tables showing the progress of the Demar- cation, the establishment of various branch offices for the reception of claims, the cost of the Land Court, and the appeals against judgments of the Land Court:-

DEMARCATION.

Demarcated Lots.

Year.

Total.

1900,

11,830

1901,

158,118

1902,

161,625

1903,

22,704

354,277

Locality.

New Kowloon, Ma Wan, Cheung

Chau, Ping Chau.

Mainland West of Pat Heung Gap.

Sai Kung, Lek Un, East of Pat Heung

Gap, Lan Tau.

Lamma, Po Toi, Tsun Wan.