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82.-(1) If a British subject-
(i) Publicly derides, mocks, or insults any religion estab-
lished or observed in China; or
(ii) Publicly offers insult to any religious service, feast, or ceremony established or kept in any part of China, or to any place of worship, tomb, or sanctuary belonging to any religion established or observed in China, or to the ministers or professors thereof; or
(iii) Publicly and wilfully commits any act tending to bring any religion established or observed in China, or its ceremonies, mode of worship, or observances, into hatred, ridicule, or contempt, and thereby to provoke a breach of the public peace;
he shall be guilty of an offence, and, on conviction thereof, liable to imprisonment not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour, and with or without a fine not exceeding £50, or to a fine alone not exceeding £50.
(2) Notwithstanding anything in this Order, every charge under this Article shall be heard and determined by the Court alone, without jury or assessors, and any Provincial Court shall have power to impose the punishment aforesaid.
(3) Consular officers shall take such precautionary measures as seem to them proper and expedient for the prevention of such offences.
83.-(1) If a British subject does any act in relation to the Supreme Court which if done in relation to the High Court of England would be punishable as a contempt of that Court, he shall be guilty of an offence, and the Supreme Court shall have with respect to it all such jurisdiction and powers as for the time being belongs to the High Court in England.
(2) If a British subject does any of the following things in relation to a Provincial Court, namely:
(a) Wilfully by act, or threat, obstructs an officer of, or person executing any process of, such Court in the performance of his duty; or
(b) Within or close to the room or place where such Court is sitting wilfully misbehaves in a violent, threatening or disrespectful manner, to the disturbance of the Court, or to the intimidation of suitors or others resorting thereto; or
(c) Wilfully insults any member of such Court, or any assessor or juror, or any person acting as clerk or officer of the Court, during his sitting or attendance in Court or in his going to or returning from Court; or (d) Does any act in relation to such Court or a matter pending therein which if done in relation to the inferior Courts of Record in England, namely, Quarter Sessions Courts and County Courts, would be punishable as a contempt of such Courts:-
he shall be guilty of a grave offence against this Order.
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Provided that such Court, if it thinks fit, instead of directing proceedings as for an offence against this Order, may order the offender to be apprehended forthwith, with or without a warrant, and on inquiry and consideration, and after the hearing of any defence which such person may offer, without further process or trial, may adjudge him to be punished with a fine not exceeding £10, or with imprisonment not exceeding twenty-four hours, at the discretion of such Court, or may report the matter to the Supreme Court, which shall have the same jurisdiction and powers in respect of the offence as are contained in paragraph (1) of this Article.
(3) A Minute shall be made and kept of every such case of punishment, recording the facts of the offence, and the extent of the punishment. In the case of a Provincial Court, a copy of the Minute shall be forthwith sent to the Supreme Court.
(4) Nothing herein shall interfere with the power of the Court to remove or exclude persons who interrupt or obstruct the pro- ceedings of the Court.
84.-(1) If an officer of the Court employed to execute an order loses by neglect or omission the opportunity of executing it, then, on complaint of the person aggrieved, and proof of the fact alleged, the Court may, if it thinks fit, order the officer to pay the damages sustained by the person complaining, or part thereof.
(2) The order shall be enforced as an order directing payment of money.
85.-(1) If a clerk or officer of the Court, acting under pre- tence of the process or authority of the Court, is charged with extortion, or with not paying over money duly levied, or with other misconduct, the Court, if it thinks fit, may inquire into the charge in a summary way, and may for that purpose summon and enforce the attendance of all necessary persons, as in an action, and may make such order for the repayment of any money extorted, or for the payment over of any money levied, and for the payment of such damages and costs, as the Court thinks fit.
(2) The Court may also, if it thinks fit, on the same inquiry, impose on the clerk or officer such fine, not exceeding £5 for each offence, as the Court thinks fit.
(3) A clerk or officer against whom an order has been made or who has been acquitted under this Article shall not be liable to an action in respect of the same matter; and any such action, if begun, shall be stayed by the Court in such manner and on such terms as the Court thinks fit.
Authority within 100 miles of Coast.
86.—(1) Where a British subject, being in China, is charged with having committed, either before or after the commencement of this Order, any offence within a British ship at a distance of
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