10
Form II
THE SOCIETIES (REGISTRATION) RULES, 1949
(Rule 3)
In accordance with the provisions of section 5 of the Societies Ordinance, 1949, I hereby order that the society named
shall be *
{
S registered
exempted from registration
}
under the said Ordin-
ance.
This ......day of
* Delete whichever inapplicable.
19
Registrar of Societies.
Objects and Reasons.
1. Prior to the enactment of the Societies Ordinance, 1920, the legislation in force in the Colony dealing with societies, i.e. the Societies Ordinance, 1911, provided for the compulsory registration of all societies.
2. The Societies Ordinance, 1920, introduced alteration of the law, par- ticularly in that registration of societies was no longer rendered compulsory. In fact, however, many societies in the years since 1920 have continued voluntarily to register with the Secretary for Chinese Affairs thereby notifying their existence.
3. It is considered that at the present time the maintenance of law and order in the Colony would be assisted by the existence of record of all societies in the Colony and a knowledge of their objects and by enhanced powers of control of societies.
4. In these circumstances a principal object of the Bill is to provide legislation in replacement of the Societies Ordinance, 1920, which replaces legal obligation upon every local society (as defined in clause 2) to apply for registration. Consequently (see clauses 9 and 25) within 30 days of the commencement of the Ordinance any local society which has not been registered or which has not been exempted from registration will automatically become an unlawful society and management or membership of any such society will be an offence (clauses 10 and 11).