1900 Jan 17
Cheung Chau, Police, Rates, 1899
Cheung Chau, Police, Rates, 1899
In January 17th, 1900, Deputy Land Officer, Bruce Shepherd, wrote in his report to Legislative Council on Land Administration in New Territories that owing to the value of the police protection now afforded by their incorporation into the Colony, the owners have voluntarily offered to pay increased Crown Rent, or such increased land tax as I recommend to be fair.
But then in 1901, in his report to Legislative Council, the member of Land Court, H.H.J. Gompertz, remarked that there are claims of land from Tsing Yi, Ma Wan, Ni Ku Chau and Cheung Chau, all 880 cases in total in 1900.
Indian and Chinese Police
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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.
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English Land Claim Form |
Chinese Land Claim Form |
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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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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.
Hong Kong Government Gazette announced Public Land Sales on Cheung Chau, 1906 December
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Pirates attack on Cheung Chau Police Station. August 21st, 1912
1912 Aug 21
Hong Kong Colonial Government New Territories South Assistant District Officer, S H Peplow, recorded at mid night of August 21st 1912 , a group of 50 pirates in small boats landed in Cheung Chau near Police Station.
They went in to kill 3 Indian Police on duty, ransacked the station and took away HK$3,000 cash from the safe, together with all guns and ammunition.
The pirates went on to rob all shops and residences in neighbourhood.
One or two pirates died and some are also injured.
The piracy shocked Hong Kong and caused Cheung Chau Police Station to move in 1913-1914 to high ground from the shore, at current location in Police Station Path.
Cheung Chau Police Station
Click here to view the route map
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