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HONGKONG.
ANNO DECIMO SEPTIMO VICTORIE REGINE.
No. 3 of 1853.
BY His Excellency Sir SAMUEL GEORGE BONHAM, Baronet, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, 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 EXTEND THE DUTIES OF CHINESE TEPOS APPOINTED UNDER ORDINANCE No. 13 or 1844; TO DETERMINE THEIR EMOLUMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF CIVIL SUITS AMONG THE CHINESE POPULATION OF HONGKONG.
[2nd December, 1853.] WHEREAS disputes occasionally arise among the Chinese Population of this Colony which might be more conveniently and amicably settled by the Tepo, aided by the respectable Chinese Inhabitants, than before an English Tribunal; and whereas with
a view to make the Tepos of the several Districts of the Colony more efficient, and to extend their usefulness, it is desirable that the voluntary Fees now paid by Chi- nese Householders for the support of the said Tepos be made rateable and compul- sory :
Be it enacted and ordained by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
Title.
Preamble.
payers.
I. Whenever the majority of Rate-payers in any District for which a Tepo has Ordinance to take been appointed under the said Ordinance No. 13 of 1844, shall, by petition to the effect by proclama. Governor, declare their wish to adopt the provisions of this Ordinance, the Governor tion of the Gover may by proclamation declare that this Ordinance shall be in force in the said District; nor, on petition of and before such proclamation this Ordinance shall not apply to any such District. majority of Rate- II. After Proclamation so made, the Rate-payers of the said District shall elect from Rate-payers to among themselves not less than five nor more than twelve Persons, whose Names elect Assessors. they shall submit to the Governor for his approval, and after approval such Persons shall, for One Year from the date of such approval, and afterwards until their Suc- cessors be chosen, become Assessors of the District: And should a less number than Twelve be chosen and approved, the Governor may nominate fit Persons to fill the vacancies. The Governor may also from time to time direct that any vacancy occurring afterwards among the said Assessors be filled in like manner by election and approval, and in default of election within a time to be fixed by him, may himself nominate persons to fill the vacancies.
Assessors
III. The Assessors so approved and nominated shall by a majority of Votes choose One of their number to be Tepo, and such Person after approval by the Governor choose Tepo. shall be Tepo of the District for One Year from the date of such approval, and after- wards until his Successor be chosen. Provided that nothing herein contained shall be held to circumscribe the Power of appointing such Tepo, possessed by the Gover- nor under Section II. of the said Ordinance No. 13 of 1844.
to
Mode of election. Qualification of
IV. The election of Assessors and Tepo shall take place not oftener than once a year, at such time and in such manner as the Governor may determine, and the qua- lification for an Elector or Assessor shall be the previous occupation during One Electors and As Year immediately preceding the election of a Tenement rated to the Police Tax, and sessors. the payment of all Arrears of the said Tax: And all disputes as to qualification or the mode of election shall be determined by the Chief Magistrate.
Assessors to fix
V. The majority of Assessors may from time to time, not being oftener than once in the year, by petition to the Governor declare what Salary they consider it necessary that Salary of Tepo. the Tepo should receive, and the Governor may thereupon authorize the said Asses- Expense how to sors to levy on the Annual Value (as assessed to the Police Tax), of all Premises in be defrayed. the occupation of Chinese Tenants, a Rate per Cent sufficient to defray the amount
of such Salary and from the Money so raised the Assessors shall pay the Salary Application of
to the said Tepo, reserving the remainder, if any, for such other purposes of Public surplus Funds. utility as the Governor may sanction, And the Chief Magistrate may enforce the payment of the said Rate by distress and sale of the Goods and Chattels found on the Premises of the defaulter, in the manner provided by Ordinance No. 2. of 1845,
for the enforcement of the payment of Police Rates.
Srney/su
393