PDF《旧北区理民府建於1899年,是英人租借新界初期的重》

旧北区理民府建於1899年,是英人租借新界初期的重 要行政关闭,至1973年正式关闭,现址借用予环保署.

The Introduction of District Office, Tai Po The history of the District Office in Tai Po, which now houses the Environmental Protection Department, is closely connected with the lease and the early British administration of the New Territories. Though the New Territories were leased by China to Great Britain under the Convention of Peking on

1 July 1898, the formal take-over did not take place until April of the following year. Early photographs taken in 1900--1901, and now in the Colonial Office Library in London, show a group of matsheds on the hill on which the present building stands. These were erected in April

1899 to serve as the first Administrative Offices of the New Territories. Their construction was the sign for violent resistance by villagers to the occupying authorities, which continued for some months. The subsequent fate of the matshed is uncertain, but they probably continued to function for several years. Two matsheds close to the present site were destroyed by fire, and a permanent building was erected on the site around 1907. IN

1910 the District Office (North) was established in this building to administrator the whole of the New Territories. A great deal of the early infrastructure of the New Territories was planned in this building, including such important development as roads and electricity and water supplies. The District Office were also responsible for the organisation of land records and, until 1961, held certain judicial powers / magistrate'

s courts). The building was damaged during the Japanese occupation, but after repairs it re-opened in May 1946. Architecturally, the building is a typical, turn of the century, colonial-style structure. Finished in red brick, simple in design, with open verandahs and horizontal brick lintels, it is both pleasing and dignified in appearance. Except for the inevitable internal alternations to enable it to cope with increasing staff and functions, and the enclosure of some verandahs, the building has not been significantly altered. Historically, it is of considerable interest. One of the first examples of western architecture in the New Territories, the building has been closely involved with the great changes that have taken place in the development of the New Territories. The former District Office, North, was declared a monument in 1981. History of the District Office, Tai Po 1. An Introduction to the New Territories and the District Office The New Territories were leased by China to Britain under the Convention of Peking for

99 years from

1 July 1898, and cover

366 sq. miles of land. The greater part lies in the mainland north of Kowloon, but the leased area includes

235 islands and islets and the waters of Deep Bay and Mirs Bay, as well as New Kowloon which is the strip of land of 71/2 sq. miles between Boundary Street and the Kowloon hills. This strip is administered as part of the urban area. From the outset it was decided that the administration of this newly acquired territory would be quite separate from the urban area, and once surveys had been completed and title established, district officers were appointed . It was not until 1910, however, that a formalised government department -- the District Office New Territories -- was set up. In the early days, there were two District Officers, one for the north and the other for the south. Each had broadly similar responsibilities for his geographical area. The District Office North was, in fact, today'