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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH NOVEMBER, 1887.
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The invaluable services of His Honour, Acting Chief Justice RUSSELL, who has been chiefly instrumental in bringing about so happy a settlement of this difficult and embarassing Opium question, have been fully recognized by Her Majesty's Government and the Govern- ment of Hongkong, and he well deserves the thanks of the whole community whose interests he has so well represented.
Mr. SETH has been most indefatigable and able in his management of the Opium Office, and to him is largely due the successful working of the Ordinance.
Among other Ordinances which have been passed this Session and which call for remarks
are:--
1. Legislative Council witnesses, and the Commissioners Powers Ordinances. These are important additions to our Statute Book, as they enable the Legislative Council to compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine them on oath, whilst the "Commissioners Powers Ordinance" authorizes the Governor, for the purpose of instituting and conducting any inquiry which may be necessary, to appoint Commissioners who will have all the powers of the Supreme Court for the purpose of enforcing the attendance of witnesses, compelling the production of documents, and punishing for contempt.
2. The Law concerning Joint Stock Companies has by Ordinance No. 30 of 1886 been aimended and improved by the introduction into this Colony of the provisions of certain Imperial Statutes.
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3. The Law of Defamation and Libel has by Ordinance No. 5 of 1887 been modified and amended by introducing the provisions of the Imperial Act respecting Newspapers and Libels.
4. The cause of order and peace in the Colony has been further promoted by the passing-
i. Of an Ordinance regulating the carriage and possession of arms.
ii. Of an Ordinance enabling Government to take steps for the suppression of the
Triad and other unlawful Societies, and
iii. Of an Ordinance for the more effectual prevention of crime by placing under police supervision all criminals who are liberated from gaol before expiry of their sentence.
The necessity of the second mentioned Ordinance was strongly urged on the Government. by a Commission which was appointed to enquire into Secret Societies, and which proved to what an extent these unlawful Societies existed here, and the power which they were enabled to exercise, -a power which they used not only for their personal benefit, but often to the prejudice of justice by the help which they extended to criminals.
5. Closely allied to these three Ordinances is that of No. 16 of 1887 empowering the Courts to award whipping for certain crimes-an Ordinance which it is hoped will act as a strong and effectual deterrent, and will therefore not be often put into force,
6. The Cattle Diseases, Slaughter House, and Markets Ordinance (No. 17 of 1887) is a useful and practical piece of legislation, the object of which is to secure the Colony from the introduction of cattle plague or other infectious diseases, the better regulation of our slaughter houses, and the cleanliness and good order of our markets,
7. The Ordinances relating to the
1. Post Office.
2. Police Force,
3. Juries and Licences,
have been amended and consolidated by several Ordinances passed this session.
8. The work of the Law Revision Committee and the preparation of the revised edition of the Ordinances has been furthered by the passing of these Ordinances and by the Statute Law Revision Ordinance No. 4 of 1887, which finally repeals and removes from our Statute Book no less than 102 Ordinances and parts of 5 others.
9. The protection of adopted daughters and young girls has been furthered by the passing of Ordinance No. 9 of 1887.
The necessity of such an Ordinance is clearly shown by the fact that there are at present no less than 205 young girls under the protection of the Registrar General, the most of whom, if not all, would have been brought up to a life of shame and immorality, had it not been for the intervention of the authorities. It is hoped that the manner in which this Ordinance, which at first was viewed with a certain amount of apprehension on the part of the Chinese, has been worked, has removed all those fears and proved to the Chinese residents that the only object which the Government had in passing it was to put a stop to a shameful traffic and to protect those who could not protect themselves.
The Annual Reports from the several Government Departments for the year 1886 have already placed the public in possession of the necessary information regarding them, and leave me but little to say excepting to testify to the zeal, energy, capacity for work, and devotion to the public service evinced by the heads of departments and their subordinates, and which I bave seldom seen equalled, certainly not surpassed, in any Colony.