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Chief Justice to pre-
side in Court, or in
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 28TH JULY, 1866.
X. The Chief Justice shall preside in the said Court, except when he shall be his absence this Mem. prevented by some necessary and reasonable Cause, and at any Sitting of the said Court which may be held during his absence, the Member present next in precedence after the Chief Justice shall preside.
ber pressut next in
precedence after the
Chief Justice.
Interest to exclude
Naval Officer from
Sitting as Judge.
All Matters (excepting
Matters of Law) to be
of Votes.
XI. No Naval Officer shall be competent to act as a Member of the said Court during the investigation of any Matter in which he shall have any Interest of any kind direct or indirect.
XII. All Matters which shall be brought before the said Court shall be decided decided by a Majority by the Majority of Votes. The President shall have an Original Vote in common with the other Members of the said Court, and if the President be the Chief Justice he shall have also a Casting Vote whenever upon any Question the Votes shall be equally divided.
Sittings of Court.
Place in which Court sits to be deemed an open Court.
Seal of the Court.
Officers of Court.
Power to Adjourn.
Judges to take an Oath.
Officers to take au Oath.
XIII. The Place at which the Court shall sit in Discharge of its Duties, shall be such place as may from time to time be appointed for that purpose by the Governor, by any Notice in the Gazette.
XIV. The Place in which the said Court shall sit to hear and determine any watter shall be deemed an open Court to which the Public generally may have access so far as the same can conveniently contain them.
XV. The Governor shall direct a Seal to be made for the said Court and may direct the same to be broken, altered and renewed at his Discretion, and all Documents, issuing from the said Court shall be sealed with the said Seal.
XVI. The Registrar and other Officers of the Supreme Court shall attend the 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.
XVII. It shall be in the Power of the said Court to adjourn the Proceedings from Time to Time to any Day or Days to be fixed by them in the event of the absence of Witnesses or of any other cause which shall appear to them expedient.
of
XVIII. Every Member of the said Court before he shall enter upon the Execution any of the Duties of his Office shall take an Oath in the presence of His Excellency 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 iny 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."
Registrar and other And every Registrar and other Officer of the said Court before he enters on the Duties of his said office shall take an Oath before one of the Judges of the said Court who shall be empowered to administer the same in the Form following (that is to say)-
Attorney General to prosecute.
Committal of
Offences connected
"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 "in all the affairs which may belong to my Charge, and without Reference or Favor "either for Prosecutors or Prisoners, or any other Persons. So Help me God."
,
XIX. For the Purpose of bringing any Offence under the cognizance of the said Court, an Information shall be signed by the Attorney General.
XX. From and after the commencement of this Ordinance every Person who, but Prisoners for Trial for for this Ordinance, would be cominitted for Trial before the Supreme Court for Piracy Offence connected therewith shall in lieu thereof be committed for Trial before the Court established by this Ordinance.
with Piracy.
Attorney General
may direct Trial to
take place at Supreme Court in certain
Cases.
or any
XXI. It shall be lawful for the Attorney General if he shall think expedient so to do, to direct that the Trial of any Person committed for Trial before the said Court shall take place before the Supreme Court in cases where the Supreme Court has Jurisdiction to try the Offence for which such Person shall have been committed aforesaid.
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