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457
i
Title.
Preamble.
Commencing 1st
November, 1844.
Entry of Particulars.
Ticket to be grant-
ed or otherwise,
Ticket.
Ticket to continue
in force for one year.
Headmen Contrac-
tors &c. required to have the men in their employ Registered,
Penalty for neglect.
ing the preceeding.
HONGKONG.
ANNO OCTAVO
VICTORIE REGINE.
No. 16 of 1844,
By His Excellency JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS Esquire, Governor and Commander in Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects in China with the advice of Legislative Council of Hongkong,
An Ordinance for establishing a Registry of the Inhabitants of the Island of Hong-
kong and its Dependencies,
(21 day of 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 21 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 were 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 con. noxious and with their places of residence and occupation, and shall and toay 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 officors 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 un-registered 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.
And be further enacted and ordained that the said Registration Ticket shall contain the name of Applicant and the number of the Ticket and the date at which it is granted and such other particulars as to the aforesaid Registrar General may seem fit. Provided always that as regards persons of Chinese origin or extraction the name of the applicant shall be in the Chinese character, also.
And be it further enacted and ordained that the said Registra tion Ticket shall continue in force for the period of one year from the date thereof and no longer and that on the expiration thereof any person who shall not forthwith apply to be again registered and obtain a fresh registration ticket shall be liable to the penalties inflicted by the provisions of this Ordinance on persons residing in the said Colony without being registered.
And be it further enacted and ordained, That if any person being a Headman Contractor or other shall bire any or other persons Coolies or workmen not being previously resident in the Colony for the purpose of executing any work or service in the said Colony he shall be bound and is hereby required as soon as the said Coolies or workmen are landed in the said Colony to cause them to proceed to the said Office or such branch offices as may be appointed in the manner hereinbefore provided. And be it further enacted and ordained that if any person retain in his or her employment or harbour or suffer to reside in his or her house or on his or her premises any person hereby required to be registered who is not duly registered according to the provisions of this Ordinance he shall be liable to a penalty of not more than 20 dollars.