a
was an offence knowing that the assembly unlawful one or continues to attend after being warned by Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, or Police Officer.
Section 6 provides for the punishment of any person knowingly allowing unlawful assembly to be held in any house belonging to or occupied by him or under his control.
Section 7 defines the word Member and Section 10 enacts that the possession of any banners, insignia, or writings of the Society shall be prima facie evidence that the possessor is a member of such Society.
Sd. Edw. J. Ackroyd Acting Attorney General
31st July, 1886.
317
Minute by the Officer Administering the Government.
(Copy)
The Acting Attorney General has not seen the report of Major Dempster. It should be referred to him.
Will not the draft Bill, as it at present stands, prohibit guilds of Chinese tradesmen, the Nam Pak Hong, Masonic Lodges, and other harmless though secret Societies?
I am inclined to think that it would be desirable to register secret societies as is done in Singapore. The Triads would not be registered, of course, nor any Society unless Government was satisfied that its object was legitimate and harmless. The law might then be made to punish societies not registered. Let us see the recommendations of the Triad Commission on the subject of registration.
(Signed) W. N. March
25th August, 1884.
To the Honourable the Acting Attorney