從《同治十二年（1873）買賣田土及村事糾紛》看晚清香港新界的基層治理與司法

Examining Local Governance and Judicial Practices in the New Territories, Hong Kong During the Late Qing: Insights from the Land Transactions and Disputes of 1873

本文透過剖析稀見的晚清新界民間訴訟文書《同治十二年買賣田土及村事糾紛》揭示邊陲鄉村社會的基層動態，以至新安知縣面對宗族、村落聯盟等地方勢力訴訟的審理與治理邏輯。本文首先通過當中16份錦田鄧氏與十八鄉的呈狀與投詞對案件的豐富描述，說明他們的呈控敘述、訴訟策略；其次，分析作為帝國邊陲的新安縣面對宗族、村落聯盟等地方勢力與領袖競逐權勢的審理與治理邏輯及考量，尤其是結合過往罕見的辦案程序、汛官等基層武官的紐帶關係、鄉紳父老間的調解機制、知縣批語。其三，結合上述層面討論墟市、械鬥衝突日益嚴重的晚清新界鄉村基層社會動態，包括盤根錯節的鄉紳關係網絡，宗族內部的領導房系。要之，通過「地方法律社會史」將法律作為地方社會整體現象的視野，這份罕見的訴訟文書有助增進晚清新界基層鄉村社會治理與司法審理的認知。

This article aims to analyze the local governance and judicial logic of San On County新安縣within the rural society of the New Territories新界, Hong Kong during the Late Qing. This analysis is based on a rare legal documents—the Land Transactions and Disputes of 1873 (Tongzhi shier nian maimai tiantu ji cunshi jiufen同治十二年買賣田土及村事糾紛)─which provide valuable insights into village society during that time.
First, the article introduces four cases noted in these documents, illustrating the rhetoric and tactics employed by the Kam Tin Tangs錦田鄧氏and Shap Pat Heung十八鄉in manipulating judicial procedures for their own benefit. Second, by analyzing the writs in detail, the article reveals the understudied legal processes of San On County in handling disputes between lineages and villages in the New Territories, as well as how magistrates considered local governance and judicial practices while adjudicating their cases. Third, this study uncovers the complex dynamics of the local rural society in the New Territories, including the intricate networks between rural leaders and gentry, as well as the evolving leadership and changing structures within lineages.
In conclusion, these documents shed light on the rarely discussed judicial practices in the New Territories during the Late Qing period, significantly enhancing our understanding of this historical context.