192
Stealing document of title to lands. 24 & 25 Vict. c. 96 s. 28.
Stealing will or codicil. Ib. s. 29.
Stealing record or other legal document. Ib. s. 30.
No. 5.] THE ORDINANCES OF HONGKONG : [A.D. 1865.
19. Every person who steals, or for any fraudulent purpose destroys, cancels, obliterates, or conceals, the whole or any part of any document of title to lands shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment with hard labour for the term of three years or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and with or without solitary confinement, and, if a male under the age of sixteen years, with or without whipping.
20.--(1.) Every person who, either during the life of the testator or after his death, steals, or for any fraudulent purpose destroys, cancels, obliterates, or conceals, the whole or any part of any will, codicil, or other testamentary instrument, whether the same relates to real or personal estate, or to both, shall be guilty of felony, and, being convicted thereof, shall be liable, at the discretion of the Court, to imprisonment with hard labour for life or for any term not less than three years or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and with or without solitary confinement, and, if a male under the age of sixteen years, with or without whipping.
(2.) In any indictment for any such offence it shall not be necessary to allege that such will, codicil, or other instrument is the property of any person.
(3.) Nothing in this or the last preceding section, nor any proceeding, conviction, or judgment to be had or taken thereupon, shall prevent, lessen, or impeach any remedy at law or in equity which any party aggrieved by any such offence might or would have had if this Ordinance had not been passed; but no conviction of any such offender shall be received in evidence in any action at law or suit in equity against him; and no person shall be liable to be convicted of any of the felonies mentioned in this and the last preceding section, by any evidence whatever, in respect of any act done by him, if he at any time previously to his being charged with such offence has first disclosed such act upon oath, affirmation, or declaration in consequence of any compulsory process of any Court of Law or Equity in any action, suit, or proceeding which has been bona fide instituted by any party aggrieved, or if he has first disclosed the same in any compulsory examination or deposition before any court on the hearing of any matter in bankruptcy.
21.--(1.) Every person who--
(a.) steals; or
(b.) for any fraudulent purpose takes from its place of deposit for the time being or from any person having the lawful custody thereof; or
(c.) unlawfully and maliciously cancels, obliterates, injures, or destroys
the whole or any part of any original document, interrogatory, any original in this Court or any document relating to or answer, int...
original doc relating to such Court. ness of any remaining Government
convicted there
ment with } for any term with or with sixteen year
(2.) In a ... to allege th the property
22.-(1.) with intent
(a.) an wha
(b.) an fixtu resp
(c.) amy pert in a use
shall be guil
to be punish
(2.) In th place as afor property of:
23.--(1.) wise destroy:
any tree, sap. any pleasure