THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 18, 1906.
ties.
18. A woman after her marriage shall continue to be Wife's ante- liable in respect and to the extent of her separate property nuptial debts for all debts contracted, and all contracts entered into or and liabil- wrongs committed by her before her marriage, including (M.W.P. any sums for which she may be liable as a contributory, Act, 1882. either before or after she has been placed on the list of section 13.) contributories, under and by virtue of any Ordinames relating to joint stock companies: and she may be sued for any such debt and for any liability in damages or otherwise under any such contract, or in respect of any such wrong ; and all sums recovered against her in respect thereof, or for any costs relating thereto, shall be payable out of her separate property; and, as between her and her husband. unless there be any contract between them to the contrary, her separate property shall be deemed to be primarily liable for all such debts, contracts, or wrongs, and for all damages or costs recovered in respect thereof : Provided always, that nothing in this Ordinance shall operate to increase or diminish the liability of any woman married before the commencement of this Ordinance for any such debt, con- tract, or wrong, as aforesaid, except as to any separate property to which she may become entitled by virtue of this Ordinance, and to which she would not have been entitled for her separate use if this Ordinance had not passed.
a certain
19. A husband shall be liable for the debts of his wife Husband to
be liable for contracted, and for all contracts entered into or wrongs
his wife's committed by her, before marringe, including any liabilities debts con- to which she may be so subject under any Ordinance tracted relating to joint steck companies as aforesaid, to the extent before of all property whatsoever belonging to his wife which he marriage to shall have acquired or become entitled to from or through extent. his wife, after deducting therefrom any payments made by (M.W.P. him, and any sums for which judgment may have been Act, 1882. bonâ fide recovered against him in any proceeding at law, section 14.) in respect of any such debts, contracts, or wrongs for or in respect of which his wife was liable before her marriage as aforesaid; but he shall not be liable for the same any further or otherwise; and any Court in which a husband shall be sued for any such debt shall have power to direct any inquiry or proceedings which it may thirk proper for the purpose of ascertaining the nature, amount or value of sneh property: Provided always, that nothing in this Ordinance contained shall operate to increase or diminish the liability of any husband married before the commence- ment of this Ordinance for or in respect of any such debt. or other liability of his wife as aforesaid.
Act, 1882, section 15.)
20. A husband and wife may be jointly sued in respec Suits for of any such debt or other liability (whether by contract or aute nuptial for any wrong) contracted or inenrred by the wife before liabilities. marriage as aforesaid, if the plaintiff in the action shall seek (M.W.P. to establish his claim, either wholly or in part, against both of them; and if in any such action, or in any action, brought in respect of any such debt or liability against the husbänd alone, it is not found that the husband is liable in respect of any property of the wife so acquired by him or to which he shall have become entitled as aforesaid, he shall have judgment for his costs of defence, whatever may be the result of the action against the wife if jointly sued with him and in any such action against husband and wife jointly, if it appears that the husband is liable for the debt or damages recovered, or any part thereof, the judgment to the extent of the amount for which the husband is liable shall be a joint judgment against the husband personally and against the wife as to her separate property; and as to the residue, if any, of such debt and damages, the judg ment shall be a separate judgment against the wife as to her separate property only.
21. A wife doing any act with respect to any property Act of wife of her husband, which, if done by the husband with respect liable to to property of the wife, would make the husband liable to criminal proceedings by the wife under this Ordinance, shall in like manner be liable to criminal proceedings by her husband.
criminal proceedings. (M.W.P. Act, 1882. section 16.)
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