HONGKONG ,
ANNO NONO
VICTORIE REGINÆ.
No. 9 of 1845.
Y His Excellency Sir JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS , Baronet, Governor
B and Commander-in -Chief of the Colony of 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.
Title.
An Ordinance to invest the Supreme Court of Hongkong with a
Summary Jurisdiction in certain Cases.
[ 19th August, 1845. ]
Preamble.
WHEREAS it is expedient that Debts and Damages of a small
and trifling Amount should be recoverable in the Supreme Court of
Hongkong, in a summary and expeditious Manner :
I. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by the Governor of Summary Jurisdic-
Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, That tion of Court.
the said Supreme Court shall have full Power and Authority to hear
and determine in a Summary Way, and without the Intervention of
a Jury, all Disputes and Differences between Party and Party,
touching any Matter of Debt, Breach of Covenant or Promise, Injury
to the Person or Property, or other Matter, where the Debt or
Damages sought to be recovered shall not exceed the Sum of One
Hundred Dollars, except the Matter in question shall relate to the
Title of any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, or to the taking of
any Duty payable to Her Majesty, or to any Fee of Office, or other
Matter, where Rights in Future might be bound, or to any General
Right or Duty : Provided, that no Party shall be precluded or
exempted from suing or being sued under the aforesaid Summary
Jurisdiction by reason of his or her not having attained the full
Age of Twenty-one Years, or by reason of Coverture where the
Husband shall not be resident within the said Colony of Hongkong.
I II.