——
Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to-
The Secretary.
War Office,
and the following number quoted.
083/4845.
C.O
6223
IREC Ren 3
London, S.W.,
War Office,
(A.0.3.)
265
74
London, S.W.
February, 1915.
sir,
I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letters No. 49510/1914 dated the 31st
December, 1914, relative to the Order in Council of the 26th October, 1896, and your 50252/1014 dated 11th January,
1915, regarding the Defence of the Realm Act 1914.
the
2. In reply I am to acquaint you that the Council
are advised that by Article 3 of the Order in Council the
powers of the Military Authorities over the residents in
Hong Kong are such only as are conferred by the Army Act
over Camp followers. Any powers which the Military have
over Camp followers derived aliunde (e,g, from conditions
under which camp followers are allowed to exercise their
calling, whether express or implied by the custom of the
Service) would not be applicable in the case of the
residents in Hong Kong.
3. Applying these principles to the cases of
riot and disturbance, and the search of persons or premiseg
it appears to the Council that as riot and disturbance
constitute offences against the Army Act any person subject
to military Law who commite such an offence can be taken
into Military Custody. Moreover although the Army Act does not expressly provide powers to search persons or premises The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial office,
Whitehall,
S. W.