THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH DECEMBER, 1886.
3. All Commissioners so appointed as aforesaid, shall if the Governor in Council deem it necessary or oxpedient, and provided that the Commission, under which they are np- pointed, so direct, have all or any of the powers, rights, and privileges following that is to say :--
(1) All such powers as are now or may hereafter be vested in the Supreme Court of the Colony or in any Judge for the time being thereof on the occa- sion of any action or suit in respect of the follow- ing matters:
(a) The enforcing the attendance of witnesses and examining them on oath, affirmation, or otherwise, as they or he may think fit. (b.) The compelling the production of deru-
ments.
(c.) The punishing persons guilty of content. (d) The ordering an inspection of any propert; And in such cases a summons under the hand o the Chairman or presiding Member of any such Commission as aforesaid, countersigned by the Secretary or Clerk (if any) to such Commission, may be substituted for and shall be equivalent to any form of process capable of being issued in any action or suit for enforcing the attendance of wit- nesses, or compelling the production of documents; and any warrant of committal to prison issued for the purpose of enforcing any such powers as afore- said shall be under the hand of the Chairman or presiding Member of any such Commission as aforesaid, countersigned by the Secretary or Clerk as aforesaid (if any), and shall not authorise the imprisonment of any offender for a period exceed- ing three months.
(2.) The power for the purposes of their Commission
to cuter and view any premises.
(3.) The right to conduct every examination of wit- nesses as aforesaid, either in public or privato, as their Commission may direct; provided that if such examination be conducted in public, due notice shall be given of the time and place of hold- ing the same, but with power to the Commissioners to adjourn any meeting from time to time and from one place to another.
4. If in the opinion of the Governor in Council the special circumstances of any inquiry render it necessary or expedient, and provided the Commission, under which the Commissioners are appointed, so direct, any person examined as a witness in any Inquiry as aforesaid, who in the opiniou of the Commissioners, makos a full and true disclosure touching all the matters in respect of which he is examined, shall reccive a certificate under the hand of the Chairman or presiding member of such Commission, countersigned by the Secretary or Clerk (if any), stating that the witness bas upon
his examination made a full and true disclosure as aforesaid; and if any civil or criminal proceding be at any time thereafter instituted against such witness in respect of any matter touching which he has been so examined, the tribunal before which such proceeding is instituted slmll, on the production and proof of the certificate, stay the proceed- ing, and may in its discretion award to such witness any costs he may
have been put to by the institution of the pro- ceeding; provided that no evidence taken under the powers conferred by this Ordinance shall be admissiblo against any person in any civil or criminal proceeding whatever, except in the case of a witness who may be accused of having given false evidence before any such Commissioners as aforesaid conducting any inquiry,
5. The Captain Superintendent of Police for the time being and all Inspectors of Police, Officers, Gaolers and Bailiffs shall and they are hereby required to give their aid and assistance to all Commissioners so appointed as aforesaid in the execution of their Office.
6. Every person who upon examination upou onth or affirmation or otherwise under this Ordinance wilfully gives false evidence shall be liable to the penalties of perjury.
7. Upon the recommendation of any Commissioners so appointed as aforesaid, the Governor shall have power to order that the actual expenses for loss of time or travelling of any witness examined under this Ordinance be paid out of the Colonial Treasury,
Towers of Commnt. signers
appointed hy the Governor. (Júl, B. 6.)
Indemnity to witananna, [lbud, s. 7.]
Police alt to Commis-
sters. [brat. 8. 6.]
Penalty for false Swokt. Ing, e. [Pbál, m.]
Expences of Wines, [[i, 8, 9.)
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