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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 8TH SEPTEMBER, 1894.
Art. XVI.--In case the Prosecutors urge that the capture should be adjudged a prize, or in case the Court deems the instant liberation as urged in the Prosecutors' memorial improper, the Court shall take steps to issue a notification. Such notification shall be published in the Official Gazette, in which shall be notified that any one who deems his interests affected by the captured vessel being adjudged a prize may send in a written petition within 30 days computed from the next day after the announcement. When no such petition is received within the period of time prescribed in the preceding clause, the Court shall at once proceed with its enquiry.
Provided that in case the Prosecutors have no further representations to submit, the Court shall, without further enquiry, give judgment at once and the document embodying it shall be forwarded to the Prosecutor.
Art. XVII. In a petition, the principal points bearing on the case shall be set forth and any documents bearing on the case shall be forwarded at the same time.
Art. XVIII.-In case a petition has been submitted within the period of time specified in Art. XVI., an oral examination shall be held at an appointed time, when the Prosecutors and the petitioner shall state their views. The petitioner may be represented by a barrister of the Empire.
When the oral examination is concluded, the judgment shall either be given at once or at a certain specified time. If a petitioner fails to appear, judgment shall be given at once.
Art. XIX.-In case the court deems it necessary to make further examination of evidence before the judgment is arrived at, the commissioned Councillor may be ordered to carry it out.
The Prosecutor or a petitioner may forward fresh facts or testimonies before the judgment is given. Art. XX.-Besides the foregoing provisions given in the preceding Articles, the Prize Court shall have power to determine rules relating to the proceedings.
Art. XXI.--Prosecutor or petitioners may appeal to the Higher Prize Court against the judgment of the Prize Court.
Art. XXII.-The period of appeal shall be limited to twenty days computed from the day after that on which the judgment has been awarded or a written decision has been transmitted.
Art. XXIII.-An appeal shall be made in writing at the Prize Court. In the document the principal points for appeal and the grounds for the appeal shall be given in detail.
To the document of a petitioner the signature of a barrister of the Empire should be affixed.
Art. XXIV.--Öf the Prosecutor's document of appeal a copy shall be prepared by the Court to be shown to the petitioner, while the appeal document of the petitioner shall be shown to the Prosecutor concerned and a written reply shall be required within 10 days; the reply of the petitioner to the Prosecutors' appeal, or the reply of the Prosecutors to the petitioner's reply, must be signed by a barrister.
Art. XXV.-When the period for filing a reply has expired the court shall transfer the documents pertaining to the appeal to the Higher Prize Court.
In case the Higher Prize Court deems it necessary to renew the inquiry into facts or testimonies, it shall return the documents specified above to the Prize Court and shall cause it to carry out the inquiry.
The Prize Court shall cause the commissioned Councillor to carry out the specified inquiry, and the documents embodying the renewed inquiry shall be shown to the Prosecutors and the petitioner before they are submitted to the Higher Prize Court.
Art. XXVI.-The Higher Prize Court shall undertake judgment upon the documents.
Art. XXVII.-Additional Rules pertaining to the process of examination and judgment of the Higher Prize Court shall be determined by that court.
Art. XXVIII.-Captures adjudged prizes shall belong to the State.
Art. XXIX.-Captured vessels or goods shall be kept, until the final decision, in custody of the Naval Authorities determined by the Minister of the Navy.
Art. XXX. Judgment shall be carried into effect by the Prosecutors of the Prize Court. With respect to the enforcement of judgment, the Prosecutors of the Prize Court may seek the aid of Naval Officers and may employ Police officials.
Art. XXXI. The provisions of the present chapter shall be applied to cases where captured vessels are not brought in owing to special circumstances in so far as they are enforcible.
APPENDIX.
Art. XXXII.-The present Regulations shall be enforced from the date of promulgation.