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British Colonial Government Policy on land administration in New Territories, 1899

1900 Jan 17

British  Colonial Government Policy on land administration in New Territories, 1899

Bruce Shepherd, then Deputy Land Officer, stated clearly in his report to Government dated 17th January, 1900, of British Colonial Government Policy in land administration in New Territories.

The policy would be based on the Land Registration Ordinance of 1843, requiring all land owners to register their land ownerships from Ching Dynasty, they would then be issued  title deeds for a period of 99 years.

Henry Blake, the Governor, issued a Chinese notice on 12th July 1899 informing all land owners of  New Territories and Outlying Islands to file their claims of  land ownerships.

Stewart Lockhart emphasised all owners ought to bring along their Ching Dynasty title deeds in person, submit the filled-in claim form to visiting officer to the village.

A list of  land owner names would be posted in the village for 7 days. If there was no dispute, a certificate of title would be issued to individual owner after payment of Crown Rent.

If there were disputes, the case would be passed on to Squatters Board for examination and the outcome would be decided by Governor.

All land in New Territories would be surveyed for its size and exact location, land not claimed would be British Colonial Government land.

“ Do not say that I have not warned you here, do not show disobedience.” Henry Blake.

FORM 指定表格

English Land Claim Form

Chinese Land Claim Form
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Last edited by Cheung Chau Magazine on 2013 Oct 21

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Cheung Chau Block Crown Lease, 1905

1905 Mar 18

Cheung Chau Block Crown Lease, 1905

Block Crown Lease is basically a Land Lease covering many land lots.

In the past, many big families in New Territories have built up a large land bank in certain village or district over a long period of time. Hong Kong Colonial Government issued a single land lease covering many land lots belonging to same family for easy management accordingly.

Wong Wai Tsak Tong is a typical example, after land claim for Cheung Chau in 1899, Hong Kong Colonial Government issued a Block Crown Lease on 18th of March in 1905 to register Wong Wai Tsak Tong for 90% of private land on Cheung Chau.

In 1995, a legislation named Block Crown Lease (Cheung Chau) Ordinance, passed to terminate Wong Wai Tsak Tong’s Taxlord status for Cheung Chau, all sub-lessees of Wong Wai Tsak Tong, lease renewed or not, who were registered in Land Registry before commencement of this legislation, would become Hong Kong Government lessee.

A chapter was closed for Wong Wai Tsak Tong and Hong Kong Colonial Government.

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Last edited by Cheung Chau Magazine on 2013 Oct 04

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First Public Land Sales on Cheung Chau, 1906

1906 Jan 01

First Public Land Sales on Cheung Chau, 1906

After completion of land surveying in New Territories, most land claim disputes were settled. Colonial Government also held the first public land auction on Crown Land on Cheung Chau.

In 1906 December, Mr. G H Wakeman, Land Officer of Government, announced a public auction for Lot 622, Lot 623 and Lot 624 on Cheung Chau,  would be held at District Land Office, Hong Kong, at 2:30pm on Friday on 4th January 1907.

Each lot is 735 sf., and had no right of access to the sea, no compensation would be made in the event of reclamation of the sea in front of it.

Today these lots are no longer in Hong Kong SAR Government Records.

刊憲通知

Hong Kong Government Gazette announced Public Land Sales on Cheung Chau, 1906 December

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Last edited by Cheung Chau Magazine on 2013 Oct 21

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