PDF《旧北区理民府建於1899年,是英人租借新界初期的重》

s District Office Tai Po. Tai Po is the largest district in the New Territories covering an area of

114 sq. miles. The population is now about 200,000 with nearly half in the three market towns of Tai Po, Fanling and Sheung Shui. The other major town is Sha Tau Kok which is right on the Colony'

s North-east boundary with China. Tai Po district is basically rural with a scattering of industry. However the three market towns have grown at a tremendous rate especially in the last several years. Traditionally they were centres where people came to sell their products but now they are growing into fairly large towns. The District Office, the first to be built in the New Territories, is at Tai Po Market. The District Office Tai Po was set up sometime at the end of the last century and is one of the very few remnants of Colonial Offices in Hong Kong. Throughout its years of existence, many changes have occurred and a high proportion of them were of historical significance. Because of the reflection they made on administrative progress since the take over of the New Territories. 2. District Office, Tai Po at the Early Stage The New Territories administration was set up in 1899, soon after the leased territory was taken over. This office was established at that time. The office was a group of two matshed buildings sited between the present Police Station and this office in a small valley. Some years later, the matshed caught fire. A site nearby was chosen and a stronger building was built in about 1907. The present entrance is in fact the back of the office. At first, the territory was administered by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, resident at Tai Po, who was also the magistrate. The primary object at that time was the maintenance of law and order. A survey of the territory and the compiling of a land register was started immediately afterwards by two Assistant Land Officers in the mainland and islands under the Land Officers, Hong Kong and was completed in 1905, and thereafter the Police Magistrate and an assistant Land Officer in the islands became collectors of Crown rent. In 1907, the title of the Police Magistrate was cha........