DIEU OROIT
HONGKONG ,
ANNO NΟΝΟ
VICTORIE REGINÆ.
No. 7 of 1845.
Y His Excellency Sir JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS, Baronet, Governor
of the Colony Hongkong and its
Dependencies, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superinten-
dent of the Trade of British Subjects in China, with the Advice of
the Legislative Council of Hongkong.
An Ordinance for the Regulation of Jurors and Juries. Title.
[ 19th August, 1845. ]
WHEREAS, owing to the Smallness of the Population at present Preamble.
existing in the Colony of Hongkong, very great Hardship and
Inconvenience would be entailed upon such of the Inhabitants thereof
as are fit and qualified to act as Jurors, by requiring, according to
the Law and Custom of England, the full Number of Twelve Persons
to constitute a Jury upon the Trial of Civil and Criminal Proceedings :
I. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by the Governor of Number of Jurors.
Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, That
all Questions of Fact, whether of a Civil or Criminal Nature, upon
which Issue shall be taken in the Course of any Proceeding before the
Supreme Court, and all Questions of Idiotcy, Lunacy, or Unsoundness
of Mind, shall be decided by the Verdict of a Jury of Six Men.
II. And be it further enacted and ordained , That every Male Who qualified and
liable to serve as Com-
Person between the Ages of Twenty-one Years and Sixty Years, being mon Jurors.
of Sound Mind, and not afflicted with Deafness, Blindness, or other
Infirmity, who shall hold Property in Lands, Houses, Buildings, or
Tenements, of the Monthly Value of Twenty-five Dollars or upwards,
either in his own Right, or as Tenant to any other Person, or who
shall be in the Receipt of an Annual Salary or Income of not less
G than