ORDINANCE No. 16 of 1844.
Registration of Inhabitants.
No. 16 of 1844.
95
An Ordinance for establishing a Registry of the Inhabitants of the Island of Hongkong and its Dependencies.
[21st August, 1844.]
WHEREAS to secure tranquillity and good order in the Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies, and to prevent the resort thereto of abandoned characters and of persons without any ostensible means of subsistence it is expedient that a registry be established of persons resident therein. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof that there be established in some convenient locality in Victoria an office to be entitled "The Registration Office" and that this office do consist of a Registrar, and of such further officers and assistants and at such salaries as the Governor in Council may be pleased to appoint subject to Her Majesty's pleasure.
And be it further enacted and ordained that from and after the first day of November next, all male inhabitants of the age of twenty-one years and upwards or capable of earning a livelihood resident in the Colony of Hongkong shall be required once in every year to appear personally at the said office or at such branch offices as may be from time to time established by the Governor in Council to be there registered in manner hereinafter mentioned unless where it shall appear advisable to the said Registrar General to dispense with the personal appearance of any one hereby required to be registered.
And be it further enacted and ordained that the said Registrar General or such other officer so to be appointed as aforesaid shall and may in all cases where he shall deem it advisable enquire into, and acquaint himself with the age birthplace and residence of every person so to be registered and with his occupation, and date of arrival in the Colony aforesaid and with the circumstances of his family and connexions and with their places of residence and occupation, and shall and may ascertain whether the said applicant be married and of what number his family consists and whether male or female and that he do enter or cause to be entered all such particulars in a book to be kept for that purpose.
And be it further enacted and ordained that if upon enquiry it shall appear to the Registrar General or such other officer so to be appointed as aforesaid that the said applicant is a fit and proper person to be permitted to reside in the said Colony it shall be lawful for the said Registrar General or such other officers to be appointed as aforesaid to grant him a registration ticket upon payment of the fees hereinafter mentioned. Provided also that if upon enquiry it shall appear to the said Registrar General or such other officer so to be appointed as aforesaid that the said unregistered person is a vagabond or bad character or without visible means of subsistence the said Registrar General or such other officer as aforesaid shall have full power and authority to prohibit him from residing in the said Colony.
Title.
Preamble.
Commencing 1st November, 1844.
Entry of particulars.
Ticket to be granted or otherwise.