ORDINANCE No. 4 OF 1864.
Neutrality.
No. 4 of 1864.
An Ordinance to give effect to Her Majesty's Regulations for the observance of Neutrality during the existing hostilities between the United States and the States calling themselves the Confederate States of America.
[29th March, 1864.]
WHEREAS Her Majesty has expressed her full determination to observe the duties of neutrality during the existing hostilities between the United States and the States calling themselves the Confederate States of America and has resolved to prevent as far as possible the use of Her Majesty's harbours, ports and coasts and the waters within Her Majesty's territorial jurisdiction in aid of the warlike purposes of either belligerent; And whereas in furtherance of such Her Majesty's determination so expressed as aforesaid Her Majesty has (amongst other things) caused it to be notified and published that no ship of war or privateer of either belligerent should be permitted while in any port, roadstead or waters subject to the territorial jurisdiction of Her Majesty to take in any supplies except provisions and such other things as might be requisite for the subsistence of her crew, and except so much coal only as would be sufficient to carry such vessel to the nearest port of her own country or to some nearer destination and that no coal should be again supplied to any such ship of war or privateer in the same or any other port, roadstead or waters subject to the territorial jurisdiction of Her Majesty without special permission, until after the expiration of three months from the time when such coal should have been last supplied to her within British Waters as aforesaid; And whereas the circumstances of this Colony are such as to render it necessary in order to give full effect to Her Majesty's intention as aforesaid that recourse be had to local enactment: Be it therefore enacted and ordained by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong by and with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof as follows:-
1. Whosoever shall furnish or supply, or shall contract or agree to furnish or supply, or shall knowingly aid or assist in furnishing or supplying, or shall knowingly cause or procure to be furnished or supplied, to any ship of war or privateer of the United States of North America or of the States calling themselves the Confederate States of America, whilst such ship of war or privateer is within the waters of this Colony or within any distance from this Colony, not exceeding five miles, any arms, ammunition, gunpowder or naval or military stores, or shall put on board or shall contract or agree to put on board, or shall aid or assist in putting on board, or shall cause or procure to be put on board of, any vessel, boat, sampan or other craft, any arms, ammunition, gunpowder or naval or military stores with the intent and design that the same may be conveyed to any such ship of war or privateer as aforesaid, whilst such ship of war or privateer shall be in the waters of this Colony aforesaid or within the distance from this Colony aforesaid shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and being convicted thereof shall be liable at the discretion of the Court to be imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years.
"Title.
Punishable.
579
Furnishing arms, ammunition, &c., to ships of war, &c., of either belligerent whilst in the waters of this Colony or within a distance of five miles to be deemed a misdemeanor.