ENG-1961 — Page 418

CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION

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practically all of Lantau, Cheung Chau and all the other islands to the west and south of Hong Kong. The District Commissioner co-ordinates the overall administration of the New Territories from an office in north Kowloon. He is assisted by the Deputy District Commissioner and a headquarters staff which, including the Cadastral Survey staff, totals 110.

The District Officers continued to hold land and small debt courts until 8th September when the New Territories (Amendment) Ordinance, 1961, was brought into force. This legislation trans- ferred the District Officers' jurisdiction to the District Courts, including a new District Court which was set up in the Fanling Magistracy to deal primarily with cases arising in the northern New Territories. In the same month the New Territories Magistrate transferred his courts from Tai Po and Ping Shan to the new Fanling Magistracy, which was opened by the Chief Justice on 2nd September 1961. In July the new Territories Magistrate started holding an additional court in temporary accommodation at Tsuen Wan: this was the first time a court had been held there.

The District Officer is concerned with every aspect of govern- ment activity in his district and acts as the principal link between the Government and the local inhabitants. His responsibilities include arbitration in all kinds of village and personal disputes, including family and matrimonial cases. He controls the utilization and sale of Crown land and administers the grant of temporary structure permits. He also controls squatters, except in the case of Tsuen Wan where the Commissioner for Resettlement took over responsibility during the year. He registers documents and deeds relating to private land; and approves plans for small domestic and agricultural buildings exempted from certain require- ments of the Buildings Ordinance, 1955. He assesses and collects stamp duty, and issues licences for various types of licensed premises. He has an allocation of funds from the New Territories local public works vote; this pays for materials to help villagers in the improvement of irrigation and water supplies, to build paths and small bridges, and to carry out a wide variety of other minor works to improve the amenities of the villages.

District Officers have the assistance of Rural Committees, elected by and from village representatives, and exercising various advisory functions. There are now twenty seven of these