The Buke of Newenith.
12 مراك
2 Inclosures.
Received
exercised by him in the functions of brand dung
Fees claimed by the buttorney General and the
Dispatch N. 102 1 30t Ivily last, as to certain
Replying to His braces
Colony.
DIE!
HONGKONG,
ANNO NONO
VICTORIÆ REGINÆ.
No. 8 of 1845.
By His Excellency Sir JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS,
Baronet, and
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 REGULATE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS.
[19th August, 1845,]
I. Be it enacted and ordained, That for the purpose of bringing a criminal case under the cognizance of the Supreme Court, an Indictment or Information, duly signed by the Attorney-General, or, in his absence, by the Colonial Secretary, shall be as valid and effectual in all respects as if the same had been presented by a grand Jury.
Title.
Indictment or Information.
II. And be it further enacted and ordained, That every Prisoner, upon being arraigned upon or charged with any Indictment or Information, by pleading generally thereto the plea of "not guilty" shall, without further form, be deemed to have put himself or herself upon the country for trial.
Effect of plea of "Not guilty."
III. And be it further enacted and ordained, That if any Prisoner being arraigned upon, or charged with any Indictment or Information, stand mute of malice, or will not answer directly to the Indictment or Information, the Court shall, if it shall so think fit, order the Registrar to enter a plea of "Not guilty" on behalf of such Prisoner, and the plea so entered
Refusal to plead.