Sessional_Paper_1907 — Page 1083

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4. Resumptions. There were some 30 small lots resumed in the Southern District of the New Territories for the extension of the Kowloon City Road towards Customs Pass, the necessary arrangements being made by the Assistant Land Officer. The outlay amounted to $1,008. In connection with the Kowloon-Canton Railway, a large number of small lots were resumed in Survey District IV and in the several villages of Wong Nai W u, Mong Kok, Ho Mun Tin, Tai Min Tin, Ma Ti and Fo Pang. The total area was about 16.5 acres and the cost $16,019.63. Owing to a discrepancy in the cadastral plans, a number of lots were erroneously resumed for the railway in the Northern District in 1995 and, as it was subsequently discovered, when the line was set out on the ground, that they were not required they were returned to their previous owners on a refund of the compensation paid. The resumptions of a large number of other lots along the line of railway was necessitated and these were effected by the Assistant Land Officer, Tai Po. In addition to the foregoing, Kowloon Inland Lot 652, situated near Hunghom, was resumed at a cost of $47,000 for the railway and a large portion of Hurghom In'and Lot 220 was resumed in connection with the proposed 100-foot road to be cut through from Hunghom Bay to Hok Un. A small triangular area of 5 square feet was resumed from Inland Lot 1,747 to enable Kau U Fong to be widened somewhat. A private road across Inland Lot 609D, having an area of 5,850 square feet and connecting Babington Path with Bonham Road, was taken over as a public road, the Crown Rent of the lot being reduced from $79,20 to $69.70 per annum. strips of land forming parts of Farm Lots 47 and 55 were resumed at a cost of $100 for the purpose of widening and improving the approach road to the Jewish Cemetery at Wongnei- chong Kowloon Inland Lots 1,128, 1,129, 1,130 and 1,131 at Tai Kok Tsui and Ping Shan Inland Lot 2 were re-entered for non-fulfilment of the Building Covenants and Aberdeen Inland Lot No. 9 was resumed for non-payment of rent.

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5. Lease Plans.-Plans and particulars (in duplicate) of 69 lots and 3 piers were for- warded to the Land Office in connection with the issue of leases.

6. Boundary Stones.-Boundary stones were fixed for 11 lots in Hongkong, 9 lots in Kowloon and 13 lots in the New Territories.

7. Sites for Booths at the Racecourse. A sum of $3,514.75 was realized by the letting of sites for the erection of booths and stands at Happy Valley during the Race Meeting.

8. Squatters' Licenses.-The number of squatters' licenses on the roll at the beginning of the year was 304 representing an annual rent of $787.40. During the year 107 were written off. The Squatters' Board heard all claims made by squatters in the villages of Tsat Tsz Mui, Tung Lo Wan, Kau Pui Shek and Tai Shek Kn but they have not yet been settled. Owing to the invaliding home of two members of the Survey Staff, very little progress was made with the surveys required to enable the Board to dispose of the remain- ing clairs. It was found necessary to restore to the roll 60 squatters whose claims had previously been disposed of as it was not found possible to complete the arrangements for their conversion into leaseholders.

9. Military Lands.-Some progress was made with the surveys in connection with the exchanges of land under the Lewis Agreement, the War Department property at Devil's Peak being demarcated and some other areas partially settled.

10. Navul Lands. There is nothing to record under this heading.

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11. Piers.-The right of erecting piers under long leases was granted in 3 cases in Hongkong, 1 in Kowloon and 1 in the New Territories whilst extensions of three piers formerly sanctioned-two in Hongkong and one in Kowloon-were also granted. The premia derived from the above in Hongkong amounted to $29,587.50, in Kowloon to $76,149.50 and in New Territories to $7.50 while the annual rentals were $1,440, $3,630 and $90 respectively. Guide piles were sanctioned for the use of the Star Ferry Co. at the approach to their Kowloon pier at an annual rent of $220. Licences for the following temporary piers for various periods were issued:-16 in Hongkong, 15 in Kowloon and 34 in the New Territories, the amount of fees payable for these being $7,123.75. Licences were also issued for 18 slipways in Hongkong, the fees for which amounted to $1,087.50.