112
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payment of a fine not exceeding two hundred dollars which may be recovered by distress and the provisions of the Magistrates Ordinance, 1890, relating to summary procedure shall apply to any proceedings under this section.
4.—(i.) If any person so summoned omits to attend at the time and place so specified, it shall be lawful for the Registrar General to issue his warrant for the arrest of such person, and such warrant shall be executed by a Police Officer or Constable in the same manner as if it had been issued by a Magistrate and every person so arrested shall be liable, upon summary conviction before a Magistrate, to the payment of a fine not exceeding ten dollars which may be recovered by distress, and the provisions of the Magistrates Ordinance, 1890, relating to summary procedure shall apply to any proceedings under this section.
Warrant for disobedien-
ce to summons and pen-
alty.
rant.
(i.) If any person against whom a warrant has been so issued as aforesaid Penalty for evading war- absconds or conceals himself so that such warrant cannot be executed, it shall be lawful for a Magistrate, on the application of the Registrar General, to order that the rents and profits of such person's property shall be attached by an officer named in such order until such time as such person shall appear before the Regis- trar General in obedience to such warrant. All or any part of the rents and pro- fits so attached may, if a Magistrate in his discretion so orders, be forfeited to the Crown.
5. This Ordinance shall only continue in operation for a period of two years Period of operation. from the coming into operation of this Ordinance, and for such further period or periods as may from time to time be determined by resolution of the Legislative Council.
1899.
Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 28th day of December,
1899.
R. F. JOHNSTON, Acting Clerk of Councils.
Assented to by His Excellency the Governor, the 30th day of December,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
(T. H. Whitehead to His Excellency the Governor.)
HONGKONG, 28th December, 1899.
DEAR SIR HENRY BLAKE,
I returned this morning from my short holiday a day sooner than the leave applied for and granted owing to pressure of business, which latter prevents my attending the Council meeting this afternoon.
I understand the Ordinance to provide for the summoning of Chinese before the Registrar General will be read a third time to-day. This is, I submit, a most important measure and imparts larger powers to the Registrar General than any possessed by the Supreme Court. It is, in my opinion, Class legislation and thoroughly unconstitutional. The Bill is being hurried through the Council with undue and unnecessary haste, and I earnestly appeal to Your Excellency to postpone the third reading for a week to give time for further consideration.