Custom, Land and Livelihood in Rural South China: The Traditional Land Law of Hong Kong's New Territories, 1750–1950

Post-War (1945–1975) Deeds (Deeds 95–100)

Post-War (1945–1975) Deeds (Deeds 95–100) Deeds Relating to the Absolute Sale of Rice-Land (95) White Deed for the Absolute Sale of Hill-Paddy (near Sai Kung Market), 1947 立賣斷輋地數人徐月。今因乏銀應用，願將輋地壹塊，坐落土名躉場，原 日係由劉國永手買收，今欲轉賣與人。先招房親人等，各不能承。後請中 人劉為邦，問到劉王氏出受承買。當眾三面言定，依時值價銀港紙壹百叁 拾五元正。就日臨輋踏看。即將此輋交與劉王氏耕種，永遠管業。異日徐 月不得收贖。此銀亦即日經中交與徐月親手接訖，並無短少。乃係两家允 意。恐口無憑，立回賣斷輋地一紙，存執為據 中人、代筆劉為邦 華民國三十六年一月伍日立賣斷輋地數人徐月 This deed for the absolute sale of hill-paddy land is issued by Tsui Yuet. Since she is lacking money to spend, she is now willing to sell to someone that single piece of hill-paddy land which she previously bought from Lau Kwok-wing at the place called Kot Cheung. The land was Àrst offered to the members of the immediate descent line, and the rest, but none could take it on. Afterwards she asked Lau Waipong as middleman to ask M. Lau Wong to see if she would be willing to take it on by purchase. The three parties, before the community, verbally settled that the true market price was 135 Hong Kong dollars. That same day, the hill-paddy was visited and inspected. The same day, the land was handed over to M. Lau Wong to plough and plant and to manage for ever. Hereafter, Tsui Yuet may not redeem the land. The money was handed over the same day through the middleman into Tsui 358 Customary Land Deeds Yuet’s hands: there was no shortfall. The two families have agreed. Fearing that a verbal agreement has no force, this written document about the absolute sale of hill-paddy has been issued as evidence. Middleman, and writer of the deed, Lau Wai-pong 36th Year of the Republic of China [1947], 1st Moon, 5th Day. This deed for the absolute sale of hill-paddy was issued by Tsui Yuet (From the collection of Dr J. W. Hayes, copy deposited in the Public Records OfÀce as HKMS 99 1/9) Note: See Deed 84 and Chapter 6. The date of the transaction strongly suggests this was an unusual transaction: the deed was issued on the Àfth day of the Chinese New Year, when the normal practice was that no sales or purchases of land could be Ànalised until the Àfteenth day. (96) Deed on Stamp Duty Paper for the Absolute Sale of Rice-Land (Shek Pik), 1956 立斷賣田契人，大嶼山水口村陳祺生。今將香港新界大嶼山第380約：第 334、779、1055、1041、1080、1082、1253、1258、1706、1715、1722、 1733、1776、1788號田地，賣與大嶼山石碧村村長徐滿喜上述各號田地。 原係徐清生物業，由徐清生賣與陳滿；陳滿身故後，遺下給其子陳祺生承 繼。現陳祺生憑中人水口村長馮有昇，介紹賣與徐清生親屬人徐滿喜。訂 明價銀港幣柒拾伍圓正。經於西曆一九五六年二月二十三日（即農曆丙申 年正月十二日）正式交易，由立契之日起，上述各號田地歸徐滿喜永遠管 業。恐口無憑，特立斷賣田契為據。 賣主陳祺生的筆 (signature) 買主徐滿喜 (signature) 中人馮有昇 (signature) 一九五六年二月二十三日立 (Revenue stamp, cancelled) This deed for the absolute sale of rice-land is issued by Chan Kei-sang, of Shui Hau Village, Lantau Island. Lots 334, 779, 1041, 1055, 1080, 1082, 1253, 1258, 1706, 1715, 1722, 1733, 1776, and 1788 in Demarcation District 380 are on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, New Territories. These lots have all been sold to Tsui Mun-hei, the Village Headman of Shek Pik Village. They were all originally the property of Tsui Ching-sang. They were sold by Tsui Ching-sang to Chan Mun. Chan Mun Post-War (1945–1975) Deeds 359 has since passed away, and Chan Kei-sang, his son, inherited all his property. Now Chan Kei-sang entrusted the Shui Hau Village Headman, Fung Yau-shing, as middleman , to introduce them to Tsui Mun-hei, the relative of Tsui Ching-sang for purchase. The price was agreed as seventy-Àve dollars, Hong Kong currency. On 23rd February 1956 by the Western Calendar (12th Day, 1st Moon, Ping San year by the lunar calendar), these lots were formally handed over by the vendor. From the date of this deed, they are Tsui Mun-hei’s to manage for ever. Fearing that a verbal agreement has no force, this deed for the absolute sale of rice-land has been issued as evidence. Vendor, Chan Kei-sang (signature) Purchaser, Tsui Mun-hei (signature) Middleman, Fung Yau-shing (signature) Issued, 1956, 23rd February (From the collection of Dr J. W. Hayes, copy deposited in the Public Records OfÀce as HKMS 99 1/61) Note: In 1956, Shek Pik Village was to be cleared for the construction of the Shek Pik Reservoir. The need to get the landholdings properly registered, to ensure that the compensation for the land went to the right people, forced some transactions which had not been properly registered to be registered in a hurry. In this case, Tsui Ching-sang sold these fourteen lots to Chan Mun; this sale, which would have taken place before the coming of the Japanese in 1941, was registered at the Land Registry. At some later date, it would seem that Tsui Mun-hei, as...