1876
Injuries to trees and plants upon Crown land and to other Crown property.
*
No. 13 of
1886.
Mode of levying fine.
+
No. 10 of 1910.
CROWN LAND PRESERVATION.
2. Whenever it is proved to the satisfaction of the Governor-in-Council that trees or growing plants upon Crown land, leased or unleased, have been felled, cut, burned, or otherwise damaged or destroyed, or that any wilful or wanton damage has been done in or upon any Crown property or such Crown land in or in the neighbourhood of any village, and that there is sufficient reason to believe that such damage or destruction was committed by the inhabitants of the said village or any of them, it shall be lawful for the Governor-in-Council to order that a fine payable at the time and in the manner prescribed in the said order shall be levied upon all persons who are registered in the Land Office as owners of land in the said village and in such areas adjacent to the said village as the Governor-in-Council may in the said order direct and who reside in the said village or within the said area and such order shall continue in force until the Governor-in-Council revokes or alters the original order, which the Governor-in-Council shall do if satisfied that the injuries to trees or growing plants on account of which the original order was issued have ceased or that full compensation has been paid by way of fine for the damage done or that such injuries or damage were not committed by the inhabitants of such village:
Provided always that before the matter is submitted to the Governor-in-Council for decision a report shall be made in the case of Crown lands situated in the New Territories by the District Officer and an Assistant District Officer, and in the case of Crown lands situated elsewhere by the Registrar General and the Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Department, who shall sit together and hold an inquiry at the said village so as to give the persons on whom the punishment may fall a full opportunity of putting forward any defence that they may have to urge.
For the purposes of any such inquiry the said officers shall have all the powers of commissioners appointed under the Commissioners Powers Ordinance, 1886.
3. Any such fine shall be a first charge upon the property of all persons who are registered in the Land Office as owners of land which is within the area specified in the said order and who reside
* As amended by No. 26 of 1910, No. 50 of 1911, No. 8 of 1912, No. 12 of 1912, No. 13 of 1912 and No. 21 of 1912.
As amended by No. 8 of 1912, No. 12 of 1912 and No. 43 of 1912 Supp. Sched.