Chinese Marriage Preservation.
[CAP. 178
CHAPTER 178.
CHINESE MARRIAGE PRESERVATION.
To provide a remedy against certain persons who commit adultery with or harbour Chinese married women.
[20th December, 1912.]
42 of 1912. Fraser 42 of 1912.
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Chinese Marriage Preservation Ordinance.
2. (1) In this Ordinance—
"Chinese married woman" means a woman married according to the laws or customs of China, and includes only the first wife (kit fat) or the second wife (tsip fong) of any Chinese man.
(2) A person who receives or harbours a Chinese married woman who has left her husband because of his cruelty to her or because of his failure properly to maintain her shall not be deemed to have received or harboured her without reasonable excuse.
3. (1) If it is proved to the satisfaction of a magistrate that any Chinese person has committed adultery with a Chinese married woman, the magistrate may order such person to pay to the husband of the woman compensation not exceeding five hundred dollars.
(2) If it is proved to the satisfaction of a magistrate that any person has without reasonable excuse received or harboured a Chinese married woman who has left the protection of her husband, the magistrate may order such person to pay to the husband of the woman compensation not exceeding two hundred dollars.
4. Compensation payable under this Ordinance may be recovered on complaint made by the husband of a Chinese married woman in all respects in the same manner as a civil debt is recoverable under the Magistrates Ordinance (Cap.227).
5. The making of an order for compensation under this Ordinance shall be a bar to any further or other proceedings for damages for adultery at the suit of the person in whose favour the order is made.
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