316
tuted by the Ordinance.
Seal of the Court.
Operation of laws of England in the Colony.
Operation of practice of English Courts in the Colony.
4 See Ordinance No. 3 of 1901.
Jurisdiction of the Court at Common Law.
Jurisdiction of the Court in Equity.
Reconstitution of the Supreme Court.
No. 3.] THE ORDINANCES OF HONGKONG: [A.D. 1873.
Court of Record and the Supreme Court of Judicature of the Colony.
4. The Supreme Court shall continue to use the same Seal as heretofore, that is to say, a Seal bearing a device and impression of the Royal Arms, within an exergue or label surrounding the same, with this inscription, "The Seal of the Supreme Court of Hongkong," and all writs and other process issuing out of the Court shall be sealed therewith.
Law and Practice of the Court.
5. Such of the laws of England as existed when the Colony obtained a local Legislature, that is to say, on the 5th day of April, 1843, shall be in force in the Colony, except so far as the said laws are inapplicable to the local circumstances of the Colony or of its inhabitants.
6. Such portions of the practice of the English Courts as existed on the said 5th day of April, 1843, shall be in force in the Colony, subject to the same exception as to their applicability as is contained in the last preceding section in relation to the laws of England, and except so far as such practice may be repealed or suspended by any Ordinance for the time being in force in the Colony relating to practice and procedure.
Jurisdiction of the Court.
7. The Supreme Court shall have the same jurisdiction in the Colony as Her Majesty's Courts of Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer lawfully have in England, and shall be a Court of Oyer and Terminer and Gaol Delivery, Assize, and Nisi Prius.
8. The Supreme Court shall be a Court of Equity, with such and the like jurisdiction as the Court of Chancery has in England; and shall have and execute all and singular the powers and authorities of the Lord High Chancellor of England, with full liberty to appoint and control guardians of infants and their estates, and also keepers of the persons and estates of idiots, lunatics, and such as, being of unsound mind, are unable to govern themselves and their estates.
Judges of the Court.
9.-(1.) From and after the commencement of this Ordinance, the Supreme Court shall consist of and be holden by and before a Chief Justice and a Puisne Judge.
(2.) Every future Chief Justice and every Puisne Judge shall be appointed from time to time by Letters Patent under the Public Seal of the Colony, by the Governor, in accordance with such instructions as he may receive through one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State.
(3.) The said Judges shall respectively hold their offices during the pleasure of Her Majesty, subject to suspension by the Governor in like manner.
A.D. 1
10.- Court 1 Govern until H
(2.) Judges. a fit and the dut under i of appe shall de Judge.
11. 1 taking, not aut office q avoidan be deen of such
12. judicial Chief J so perfc all inter Justice.
13.- ing offic of the as to tl the adm authorit Ordinai
(2.) + of the S appoint (3.). execute persona