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The new sub-section (4), regulating applications to the court by the Official Administrator, follows the procedure laid down for such applications by the Official Receiver under Bankruptcy Rule No. 156 published in the Hong Kong Government Gazette of the 18th November, 1932.
2. Section 3 substitutes for sections 18 and 19 of the principal Ordinance redrafted sections making it clearer that an intestate's estate in the Colony is to vest in the Official Administrator, until administration is granted, whether the intestate died in the Colony or elsewhere and that the limit of $250 referred to in section 19 of the principal Ordi- nance applies to the value of the whole estate in the Colony and not to be whole estate wherever situate.
3. Section 4 corrects a typographic error in section 20 (1) of the principal Ordinance as printed in the edition of the Ordinances authorised as the only proper statute book of the Colony for the Ordinances 1844-1923 by section 12 of Ordinance No. 18 of 1923.
4. Section 5 substitutes for section 24 of the principal Ordinance a section in which, instead of the fixed 5% com- mission, a scale corresponding with the scale allowed in practice under section 59, is enacted. The words "or such lower rate or rates as the court may approve on the applica- tion of the Official Administrator" are added to provide for cases where the scale may be excessive, as where the Official Administrator temporarily takes possession of a large estate pending a grant under section 18 and does not actually administer it.
5. Section 6 substitutes for section 29 of the principal Ordinance a section in which it is re-enacted with the substitution of the words "vested in him by this Ordinance, or for anything done by him in the exercise or the intended exercise of his office as administrator under any grant of letters of administration made to him under this Ordinance, if it was done bonâ fide;” for the words "vested in him by section 14 or section 19". The amendment whilst limiting the operation of the section to acts done in good faith, extends the protection it affords to the Official Administrator and makes a similar extension of the summary remedy afforded to persons aggrieved.
6. Section 7 repeals the last two and a half lines of section 33 of the principal Ordinance and re-enacts them with the addition of the words "as may be required under th Part or'. Under sections 40 and 41 which are, like section 33, in Part III of the principal Ordinance, the security is by way of bond unless the court otherwise directs. '
7. Section 8 repeals the proviso to section 40 of the principal Ordinance which in conjunction with section 64 might be deemed to imply that the Inspector General of Police is bound to take out letters of administration for deceased members of the police force.
8. Section 9 repeals sections 55 and 56 of the principal Ordinance and the heading thereto. The practice of prepar- ing and distributing calendars of grants fell into disuse many years ago and it is not considered necessary to revive it.