[time issued by the head of the Government over all persons other than those subject to the Mutiny Act, or to the General Law, for the Government of the Fleet, resorting to or abiding in the Harbors of the said Island.
And I further authorize and require you to exercise Magisterial and police authority over any persons other than those herein before described, who shall be found committing breaches of the peace in any of the Harbors of this Island, or breaches of any Regulations issued from time to time by this Government, according to the customs and usages of general British Police Law.
And I do hereby authorize you, for the police purposes herein before specified, to arrest, detain, discharge, and punish, such Offenders, according to the principles and practice of general British Police Law: requiring you, however, in any case when the crime shall involve punishment of such degrees of severity as are included in the annexed scale, to remit the case for the judgement of the head of this Government for the time being.
SCALE.
Imprisonment (with or without hard labor) for more than one calendar month.
Penalties exceeding $400.
Corporal punishment exceeding thirty-six strokes or lashes.
Capital punishment.
AND I do further require you, in all cases followed by Sentence or infliction of punishment, to keep a Record containing a brief statement of the case, and copy of the sentence.
ALL persons, subject to the Mutiny Act, or the general law for the government of the Fleet, found committing police or other offences, shall be handed over to their proper Naval or Military superiors for punishment.
AND I do further authorize and require you to detain in safe custody any person whatever, found committing within the Harbors and waters appertaining to the Government of Hongkong, crimes and offences amounting to felony, according to the laws of England; forthwith reporting your proceedings herein, and the grounds thereof, to the head of the Government for the time being.
AND I further authorize and require you to investigate, and summarily to decide, all claims for debts, not exceeding the sum of Fifty Dollars, or one hundred and twenty-five Rupees, that may be brought before you: and further to investigate, when so brought to your notice other claims for debts, beyond that sum, and not exceeding Two hundred Dollars, or Five hundred Rupees, but referring, in all cases, such larger claims to the head of the Government for the time being, for instruction.
And I further require you, as often as you may deem it necessary to confine debtors, with the view of enforcing your awards, immediately and specially to report such decision to the head for the time being of the Government.
And for all your lawful proceedings in the premises, this warrant shall be your sufficient protection and authority.
GIVEN under my hand and seal of Office at Hongkong, this Twenty-fifth day of April in the year 1842.
SIGNED
HENRY POTTINGER
By the Chief Superintendent &c. Charged with the Government.
SIGNED
J. Robt: Morrison
Acting Secretary and Treasurer.
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