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HONGKONG.
ANNO SEXTO ET SEPTIMO
VICTORIÆ REGINÆ.
No. 1 of 1844.
By His Excellency Sir HENRY POTTINGER, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Major General in the Service of the East India Company, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Superintendent of the Trade of Her Majesty's Subjects in China, with the advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.
An Ordinance to define the Law relating to Slavery in Hongkong.
[28th February, 1844.] WHEREAS it is expedient to define and promulgate the Law respecting Slavery in the Colony of Hongkong,
Title.
Preamble.
Laws of England
1.—Be it therefore enacted and declared by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that the Laws of England prohibitory of slavery, together with the punishments and penalties provided therein, shall be in full virtue and operation and shall be duly enforced and inflicted in the said Colony, save as hereinafter excepted,
2. And be it enacted, that every one whatsoever using or treating, or attempting to use or treat, any person as a slave in Hongkong, shall upon conviction thereof before the Chief Magistrate of Police of Hongkong, or before such Court of Justice as may hereafter be established in Hongkong, be liable to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour and corporal punishment, and shall forfeit to Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the said Colony of Hongkong, such sum not exceeding five hundred dollars for each offence, and also such other additional sum not exceeding two hundred dollars to be paid to any person giving information of the said offence, as shall be adjudged by the said Chief Magistrate or Court aforesaid.
3.—And be it enacted that if any person, not being a subject of Her Majesty, shall come within the precincts of the Colony of Hongkong, bringing with him any person previously a slave, and shall not forthwith on being lawfully requested, or within ten days after his arrival as aforesaid (whether thereto being required or not) convey such previous slave before the Chief Magistrate of Police at Hongkong, or before the nearest Justice of the Peace, such person shall, on being convicted thereof as aforesaid, be liable to be imprisoned for any period not exceeding six months, with or without hard labour and corporal punishment, and shall forfeit to Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors, for the public uses of the Colony, such sum not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offence, and also such additional sum not exceeding fifty dollars, to be paid to the person giving information of the said offence, as shall be adjudged as aforesaid.
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