1114
THE HONGKONG. GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST NOVEMBER, 1890.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION. --No. 454.
The following Commission under The Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 31st October, 1890.
W. M. DEANE,
Acting Colonial Secretary.
[L.S.]
F. FLEMING,
Officer Administering the Government.
Whereas it is expedient that a Commission be appointed to enquire into the question of the Original Squatters in the Colony with special reference to the following details, viz.:-
(1.) To hear claims for Crown Leases for the residue of a term of 999 years, commencing at the establishment of the Colony by Squatters upon land their Assignees, Descendants or present Representatives, and to report to the Governor upon the merits of such
claims.
(2.) To advise the Governor as to what if any compensation in money or otherwise should be given to any person or persons preferring any such claim in case the Governor should deem the granting of a Crown Lease of the land included in any such claim or any part thereof inadvisable.
(3.) To make any recommendation the Commission desire to make on the above subject. Now, I, FRANCIS FLEMING, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, the Officer Administering the Government of the Colony of Hongkong and its Depend- encies and Vice-Admiral of the same, in Executive Council assembled, do hereby under the powers vested in me by Ordinance No. 27 of 1886 entitled The Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886, appoint you,—
(1.) His Honour Mr. FIELDING CLARKE, Acting Chief Justice,
(2.) The Honourable EDWARD JAMES ACKROYD, Registrar of the Supreme Court of Hong-
kong, at present Acting Attorney General,
(3.) The Honourable SAMUEL BROWN, Surveyor General and a Member of the Legislative
Council, and
(4.) The Honourable NORMAN GILBERT MITCHELL-INNES, Acting Registrar General and a Member of the Legislative Council, to be a Commission for the purpose of instituting, making and conducting such enquiry.
And I hereby appoint you the said FIELDING CLARKE to be Chairman of such Commission. And I do hereby order and direct that for all or any of the purposes of this Commission three Members thereof inclusive of the Chairman shall be and constitute a quorum. And I do hereby order and direct that the said Commission shall for the purpose of making the said enquiry have all such powers as are vested in the Supreme Court of this Colony or in any Judge thereof on the occasion of any suit or action in respect of the following matters, viz. :—
The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation or
otherwise;
The compelling the production of Documents;
The punishing persons guilty of contempt; The ordering the inspection of any property;
with power also, for the purpose of this Commission, to enter and view any premises; and also with power to the Commission to fix a time beyond which claimants, shall be precluded from asking for Leases;
Notice of the time fixed shall be put up in a conspicuous place in the villages where it is proposed that Leases should be granted.
And I do hereby further direct that every examination of witnesses shall be held in public or in private as the Commission may determine; and I do further require you to report to me your opinion on the evidence, and I hereby charge all persons in the Public Service to assist you herein.
Given under my hand and the public seal of the Colony, at Government House, Victoria, Hong- kong, this fourth day of September, 1890.
By Command,
W. M. DEANE, Acting Colonial Secretary.
To His Honour
Mr. FIELDING CLARKE,
Acting Chief Justice,
&C..
&c.,
&c.