BRITISH TITARY ADMINISTRATION, HONG KONG.
PROCLAMATION No. 1 of 194
A Proclamation to proclaim martial law and the establishment of a Military Administration.
IH
3
WHEREAS by reason of military necessity and for the prevention and suppression of disorder and the maintenance of public safety it is necessary to place the Colony of Hong Kong and its Dependencies, including the New Territories,
(hereinafter called "the Colony") under martial law and to establish a military administration for the conduct of government :
NOW, THEREFORE, I
Froclamation
of
martial
lati.
Assumption of powers and juris- diction.
Delegation.
Existing
laws to be respected.
Revocation
of
HEREBY PROCLAIL as follows :-
1.artial law is hereby proclaimed throughout the Colony or such parts thereof as are now or shall hereafter be under the control of the Forces under my command or that of my successors and shall be enforced until I or my successors shall proclaim that it is no longer deemed necessary.
2. I hereby assume for myself and my successors full judicial, legislative, executive and administrative powers and responsibilities and conclusive jurisdiction over all persons and property in the Colony or such parts thereof as are now or shall hereafter be under the control of the Forces und er my command or that of my successors.
3. I delegate to the military officer for the time being holding the appointment of the Chief Civil Affairs Officer for the Colony all the powers, responsibilities and jurisdict- ion assumed by me together with full authority on my behalf to conduct the administration of the civil affairs of the Colony, subject always to any orders and directions which I may issue from time to time, and for this purpose the Chief Civil Affairs Officer is authorised further to delegate such powers, responsibilities and jurisdiction as he may deem necessary.
41) Subject to the provisions of any Proclamation or other enactment of the Military Administration and in so far as military exigencies permit
(a) all laws and customs existing immediately prior to the
Japanese occupation will be respected and such of the existing laws as the Chief Civil Affairs Officer considers it is practicable from time to time to administer during the period of military administration will be administered:
(b) all rights and properties will be respected: Provided that rights and properties acquired or alleged to have been acquired during the period of Japanese occupation will be subject to investigation and to such action as justice may require.
(2) Inhabitants in doubt as to whether an existing law is being administered should consult the nearest Civil Affairs Officer.
5. All Proclamations, enactments,orders and the like issued or made by or with the sanction of any Japanese authority during enactments by the period of Japanese occupation shall cease forthwith to
Ja panes e
have any effect.
authorities.
1.
6/