THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT, GAZETTE, 9TH MAY, 1868.
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XIII. "The High Court for Suppression of Piracy" shall have jurisdiction con- Offences cognizable currently with the Supreme Court to try all cases of Piracy which the Supreme Court by High Court, now has jurisdiction to try, and also the Offences hereinbefore defined, and to inflict the punishment attached thereto respectively.
XIV. The said High Court shall be and is hereby empowered to try without the High Court Intervention of a Jury all cases over which it hath or may hereafter have Jurisdiction. empowered to act
without a Jury.
XV. The Official Members of the High Court shall take Precedence of the Precedence. Unofficial Members, and the Unofficial Members shall, when sitting in Court, take Prece- dence between themselves according to the Rules of Precedence ordinarily adopted in this Colony, with Sanction of the Governor.
XVI. The High Court shall not be competent to try any Case unless Three Members Quorum. at the least of such Court shall be present at the Sitting of such Court, and of these Three Members, One, at the least, shall be the Chief Justice or the Judge of the Court of Summary Jurisdiction.
XVII. The Chief Justice shall preside in the High Court, except when he shall be Chief Justice to pre- prevented by some necessary and reasonable Cause, and at any Sitting of the said Court side in Court, or in which may
be held during his absence, the Judge of the Court of Summary Jurisdiction of the Court of shall preside.
his absence the Judge
Summary Jurisdic-
tion.
of Votes.
XVIII. All Matters which shall be brought before the High Court shall be decided All Matters to be by the Majority of Votes. The President shall have an Original Vote in common with decided by a Majority the other Members of the Court, and shall have also a Casting Vote whenever upon any Question the Votes shall be equally divided.
XIX. The Place at which the High Court shall sit in Discharge of its Duties, shall sittings of Court. be such Place as may from time to time be appointed for that purpose by the Governor.
XX. The Place in which the High Court shall sit to hear and determine any Matter Place in which Court shall be deemed an open Court to which the Public generally may have access.
sits to be deemed an open Court.
XXI. The Governor shall direct a Seal to be made for the High Court and may Seal of the Court. direct the same to be broken, altered and renewed at his Discretion, and all Documents issuing from the Court shall be sealed with the said Seal.
XXII. The Registrar and other Officers of the Supreme Court shall attend the Officers of Court. Sittings of "the High Court of Hongkong for the Suppression of Piracy," and assist in the Proceedings thereof, and whilst so attending and assisting shall be styled Officers of such last mentioned Court.
XXIII. It shall be in the Power of the High Court to Adjourn the Proceedings Power to Adjourn. from Time to Time to any Day or Days to be fixed by them in the event of the absence of Witnesses or of other
any
cause which shall appear to them expedient.
of
Oath.
XXIV. Every Member of the High Court before he shall enter upon the Execution Members to take an any
of the Duties of his Office shall take an Oath in the presence of the Governor in the Form following, that is to say:-
"I, A. B., do solemnly Swear that I will according to the best of my skill and "knowledge, act in the Execution of my Office of Member of 'the High Court of "Hongkong for the Suppression of Piracy' faithfully, impartially, fairly, and with- out Prejudice either for or against Prosecutors or Prisoners, or any other Persons. "So Help me God.”
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And every Registrar and other Officer of the same Court before he enters on the Duties Registrar and other of his Office shall take an Oath before One of the Members of the Court who shall be Officers to take un empowered to administer the same in the Form following, that is to say:
"I, A.B., do solemnly Swear that I will according to the best of my skill and "knowledge act in the Execution of my Office, and that I will conduct myself with "Respect to the Authority of the Members of 'the High Court of Hongkong for the Suppression of Piracy' to which Court I am attached and will act with Fidelity
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Oath.