1905 Jan 01
Wong Wai Tsak Tong, Cheung Chau
Wong Wai Tsak Tong, Cheung Chau
Wong Wai Tsak Tong was land owner of 90% of private land on Cheung Chau.
According to Wong Wai Tsak Tong’s clan book, the Tong originated from Po Tin area of Fujian (Fookin) province around Southern Sung Dynasty, (A.D.1127-1279), then moved to Guandong (Canton) from Fujian and settled down in the province.
Further to Land Claim in 1899, the Hong Kong Colonial Government registered Wong Wai Tsak Tong in 1905, in the form of Block Crown Lease as owner of 90% of private land on Cheung Chau.
Wong Wai Tsak Tong then issued 5-year lease for land to individual owners, and also collected payment of Crown Rent and paid to Hong Kong Colonial Government.
This practice went on till 1995 when a legislation, Block Crown Lease (Cheung Chau) Ordinance, passed to terminate Wong Wai Tsak Tong as the Taxlord for Hong Kong Colonial Government on Cheung Chau.
In the press release from Hong Kong SAR Government dated 25th of May in 2011, in response to query from Mr. Tsim Pui-Chung , Legislative Councillor of Legislative Council, Mrs Lam Cheng Yuet-Ngor, Chief Secretary of Hong Kong SAR Government, clearly stated that “a sum of HK$20.0 millions have been made to Wong Wai Tsak Tong in 2004 as compensation, which is not calculated on basis on size of land. There were no legal process involved in recovering Cheung Chau land from Wong Wai Tsak Tong.”
She also said “Block Crown Lease (Cheung Chau) Ordinance, passed in July in 1995 has terminated Wong Wai Tsak Tong status on Cheung Chau legally, and all sub-lessee from Wong Wai Tsak Tong will become lessee of Hong Kong SAR Government.”
Wong Wai Tsak Tong, however, remains as the biggest land owner and landlords on Cheung Chau, according to Land Registry of Hong Kong SAR Government.
 Wong Wai Tsak Tong Clan’s Book |
Cheung Chau Map, 1874 Wong Wai Tsak Tong Clan’s Book |
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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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