81
"Forest Reserve'
means any area of Crown land
reserved for forestry purposes, other than a forest or a plantation.
Plantation means any area of Crown land which
has been planted with trees or shrubs.
3. Every person who shall wilfully or negligently set Damaging or fire to any thing, whether growing or not, in or near any endangering forest, forest reserve, or plantation, in such a manner as to forests, etc.,
by fire. damage or endanger any other thing which is growing in any forest, forest reserve, or plantation, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $100.
Objects and Reasons.
The object of this bill is to make provision for the pro- tection from fire of trees on Crown land.
J. H. KEMP,
A BILL
Attorney General.
=
INTITULED
An Ordinance to make further provision for the protection of trees on Crown land and other Crown property from wilful damage.
BE it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Crown Land Short title. Preservation Ordinance, 1917.
2. If at any time it shall be shown to the satisfaction of Power to the Governor that trees or growing plants on Crown land order en- have been felled, cut, burned or otherwise damaged or quiry. destroyed, or that any wilful or wanton damage has been done on Crown land, and that there is reason to believe that such dainage or destruction was committed by any of the inhabitants of any village or area, it shall be lawful for the Governor to order that a court of inquiry shall be held at or near the said village or in or near the said area.
3. In the case of villages or areas in the New Terri- Composition tories the court of enquiry shall consist of the District of court of Officer or Assistant District Officer and the Superintendent enquiry. of the Botanical and Forestry Department, and in all other cases it shall consist of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or any Assistant to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and the Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Depart-
ment.
4. The said court shall hold the enquiry in public and Proceedings shall afford to all persons who may be adversely affected of court of full opportunity of being heard in their defence.
enquiry.
5. For the purposes of any such enquiry the said court Powers of shall have all the powers and privileges which under the court of Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, are or may be enquiry. conferred on commissioners appointed thereunder.
Ordinance No 13 of 1886.
6. On the completion of the enquiry the court shall Report to be report to the Governor as to whether in their opinion the made to damage or destruction was caused by the inhabitants of Governor, any village or area.
Page 5Page 6