(8)
18. "A schedule was published annually till 1919 when there
were thirty-six masters' trade guilds or societies exempted, five
of which included workmen, and thirty-five guilds of workmen. In addition, twenty-four trade guilds and societies were included.
in the list of registered societies. Among the exempted guilds there were no less than six brass-smiths guilds, six masons guilds, and three teahouse guilds, showing the lack of organisation and
unity among the workmen of the various trades.
19. "Both exempted and registered societies might at any time be ordered to furnish information to the Registrar of Societies, who was the Registrar-General, as the Secretary for Chinese Affairs was then called, concerning the constitution and rules of the
society, its office bearers, and the number of its members,
As a vehicle for obtaining reliable information about, and control over, the societies the Ordinance was a failure and frequently a cause of embarrassment to Government.
20.
"The Societies Ordinance No.8 of 1920 reversed the policy. Registration was abandoned and the only societies declared to be
unlawful were:
(a) the Triad Society:
(b) all societies which use a Triad ritual:
(c) all societies which have among their objects unlawful
purposes or purposes incompatible with the peace and good order of the Colony.
It is lawful for the Gove mor in Council in his absolute discretion to declare to be unlawful any society which in his opinion -
(a) has among its objects unlawful purposes or purposes
incompatible with the peace and good order of the Colony, or (b) is being used, or is likely to be used, for unlawful purposes or for purposes incompatible with the peace and good order of the Colony, or
(c) is by reason of its actions or proceedings calculated to
excite tumult or disorder in China or to excite pers ang to crime in China.
21.
ا.