pleased to confirm and
allow this Ordinance.
John
will communicate
H. M's. decision to the
Inhabitants of Hongkong by a Proclamation to be
published
in the literal and
most authentic manner.
there
DROIT'
HONGKONG,
ANNO NONO
VICTORIÆ REGINÆ.
No. 9 of 1845.
By His Excellency Sir JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS,
Baronet, 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 the Legislative Council of Hongkong.
AN ORDINANCE TO INVEST THE SUPREME COURT OF HONGKONG WITH A SUMMARY JURISDICTION IN CERTAIN CASES.
[19th August, 1845.]
Title.
I. WHEREAS it is expedient, That debts and damages of a small and trifling amount should be recoverable in the Supreme Court of Hongkong, in a summary and expeditious manner;
Preamble.
Be it therefore enacted and ordained by the Governor
of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council
thereof, That the said Supreme Court shall have full power and authority to hear and determine in a summary way, and without the intervention of a Jury, all disputes and differences between party and party, touching any matter of debt, breach of covenant or promise, injury to the person or property, or other matter, where the debt or damages sought to be recovered shall not exceed the sum of One Hundred Dollars, except the matter in question shall relate to the title of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or to the taking of any duty payable to Her Majesty, or to any fee of office, or other matter, where rights in future might be bound, or to any general right or duty: Provided, that no party shall be precluded or exempted from suing or being sued under the aforesaid Summary Jurisdiction by reason of his or her not having
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