ORDINANCE No. 12 OF 1844.
Police Force Regulation.
No. 12 of 1844.
45
An Ordinance for the establishment and regulation of a Police Force in the Colony of Hongkong.
[1st May, 1844.]
WHEREAS it is expedient that provision should be made for establishing an effective system of police, within the Colony of Hongkong: Be it enacted, that it shall, and may be lawful for His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, to nominate, and appoint a proper person to be Chief Magistrate of Police, throughout the Colony of Hongkong, who shall reside in the town of Victoria, and shall be charged, and invested, with the general direction, and superintendence of the Force to be established under this Ordinance, and to appoint from time to time, fit and proper persons to be respectively marine, and assistant Magistrates, and Superintendents of Police, under the said Chief Magistrate, and proper persons to be clerks in the office of such Chief Magistrate, and every such marine, and assistant Magistrates, and Superintendent of Police, shall on his appointment to such office, forthwith take before any two Justices of the Peace at Hongkong, the oaths required to be taken by Justices of the Peace in Hongkong aforesaid, and also the oath hereinafter contained, and shall thereupon become and be, without further qualification or appointment, and continue so long as they shall hold the said offices, but no longer, Justices of the Peace for the Colony of Hongkong.
"I do swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady the Queen in the office of Chief or assistant, or marine Magistrate, or Superintendent of Police (as the case may be) without favor, or affection, malice, or ill-will, that I will see and cause Her Majesty's peace to be kept, and preserved, and that I will prevent, to the best of my power, all offences against the same, and that while I shall continue to hold the said office, I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties thereof faithfully according to law, so help me God."
And no person appointed under this Ordinance, to be Chief, or assistant, or marine Magistrate, or Superintendent of Police, shall be capable of holding the said office, or of acting in any way therein, until he shall take and subscribe the above oath, and the said oath shall be administered by any two Justices of the Peace at Hongkong, and such Justices shall forthwith give to the person taking the same a certificate thereof under their hands, such certificate to be forwarded to the Governor of the said Colony, or to such person as he shall appoint.
2. And be it enacted, that a sufficient number of fit and able men shall from time to time be appointed by the Governor, as a Police Force for the whole of the Colony of Hongkong, who shall be sworn in by the Chief or assistant Magistrates, to act as constables for preserving the peace, and preventing robberies, and other felonies, and apprehending offenders against the peace, and the men so sworn in shall have all such powers as constables.
Title.
Preamble.
Governor to appoint Chief, marine and assistant Magistrates and Superintendents of Police &c.
Oaths to be taken.
Oath.
Policemen appointed to have power of constables,