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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, NOVEMBER 22, 1912.
56.1
"By adding to the number of the Guns, or by changing those on board for other Guns, or by the addition of any Equipment for War, increases or augments, or procures to be in- creased or augmented, or is knowingly concerned in increasing or augmenting the warlike Force of any Ship which at the time of her being within the Dominions of Her Majesty was a Ship in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with any friendly State-
"Such Person shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and shall be punishable by Fine and Imprisonment, or either of such punishments, at the Discretion of the Court before which the Offender is convicted; and Imprisonment, if awarded,
be either with or without Hard Labour.
may
"If any Person within the limits of Her Majesty's Dominions, and without the License of Her Majesty-
"Prepares or fits out any Naval or Military Expedition to proceed against the Dominions of any friendly State, the following Consequences shall ensue :-
(1.) Every Person engaged in such preparation or fitting out, or assisting therein, or employed in any capacity in such Expedition, shall be guilty of an Offence against this Act, and shall be punishable by Fine and Imprisonment, or either of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court before which the Offender is convicted; and Imprisonment, if awarded, may be either with or without Hard Labour;
"(2.) All Ships and their Equipments, and all Arms and Munitions of War, used in
or forming part of such Expedition shall be forfeited to Her Majesty.
"Any Person who aids, abets, counsels, or procures the Commission of against this Act shall be liable to be tried and punished as a principal Offender."
any
Offence
And whereas by the said Act it is further provided that Ships built, commissioned, equipped, or despatched in contravention of the said Act may be condemned and forfeited by Judgment of the Court of Admiralty; and that if the Secretary of State or Chief Executive Authority is satisfied that there is a reasonable and probable cause for believing that a Ship within Our Dominions has been or is being built, commissioned, or equipped 'contrary to the said Act, and is about to be taken beyond the limits of such Dominions, or that a Ship is about to be despatched contrary to the Act, such Secretary of State or Chief Executive Authority shall have power to issue a warrant authorizing the seizure and search of such Ship and her detention until she has been either condemned or released by Process of Law. And whereas certain powers of seizure and detention are conferred by the said Act on certain Local Authorities.
Now, in order that none of Our Subjects may unwarily render themselves liable to the Penalties imposed by the said Statute, We do hereby strictly command that no Person or Persons whatsoever do commit any Act, Matter, or Thing whatsoever contrary to the Provisions of the said Statute, upon pain of the several Penalties by the said Statute imposed and of Our high Displeasure.
And We do hereby further warn and admonish all Our loving Subjects, and all Persons whatsoever entitled to Our Protection, to observe towards each of the aforesaid Powers, their Subjects and Territories, and towards all Belligerents whatsoever with whom We are at Peace, the Duties of Neutrality; and to respect in all and each of them the Exercise of Belligerent Rights.
And We hereby further warn all Our loving Subjects, and all persons whatsoever entitled to Our Protection, that if any of them shall presume, in contempt of this Our Royal Proclamation, to do aury acts in derogation of their Duty as Subjects of a Neutral Power in a War between other Powers, or in violation or contravention of the Law of Nations in that behalf, all Persons so offending will rightfully incur and be justly liable to the Penalties de- nounced by such Law.
And We do hereby give Notice that all Our Subjects and Persons entitled to Our Protection who may misconduct themselves in the Premises will do so at their peril, and of their own wrong; and that they will in no wise obtain any Protection from Us against such Penalties as aforesaid.
Given at Our Court at Buckingham Palace, this twenty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and twelve, and in the third year of Our Reign.
GOD SAVE THE KING.
F