1341.
The Hongkong Gazette.
237
And all persons, subject to the mutiny act, or the general law for the govern ment of the fleet, found committing police or other offenses, shall be handed over to their proper military superiors for punishment.
And I do further authorize and require you, to detain in safe custody any per- son whatever, found committing crimes and offenses within the government of Hongkong, amounting to felony, according to the law of England; forthwith re- porting your proceedings herein, and the grounds thereof, to the head of the government for the time being. And for all your lawful proceedings in the pre- mises, this Warrant shall be your sufficient protection and authority.
Given under my hand and seal of office at Macao, at this thirtieth day of April, in the year 1841.
CHARLES ELLIOT.
No. 2.
Rules and Regulations for THE BRITISH Merchant Shipping.
The following Rules and Regulations for the preservation of the peace, and the maintenance of due subordination on board the British merchant shipping, now at anchor or hereafter arriving within the port of Hongkong, are published for the information of all whom it may concern.
SECTION 1. Of the functions of the magistrate.
REG. No. 1. To repair forthwith on board of any British ship, sending or making the signal for assistance (signals hereinafter specified), by reason of the riotous state of the crew, and, if a state of actual violence or resistance to authority shall exist, to take instant and energetic measures for the restoration of the peace and due subordination.
REG. NO. 2. Fire-arms in no case to be used on such occasions, except for the protection of life, till the magistrate, or in his absence the command- ing officer of the ship, or one of the constables of police, shall have, audibly and ineffectually, made the following proclamation (or words to the like effect): "Our sovereign Lady the Queen commands all persons here assem- bled, immediately to disperse themselves, and to return peaceably to the per- formance of their duties. God save the Queen.”
REG. NO. 3. The Magistrate on the spot, after summary inquiry into the occasion of any riot, may issue his warrant for the apprehension of any persons who shall appear to him to have acted as ringleaders, either leaving them for safe custody on board their own ships, or committing them to jail, as he may judge best under the circumstances.
SECTION 2. Of the offenses cognizable by the magistrate, and the penalties thereunto attached.
REG. NO. 1.
Offence.
1. Drunkenness with riot, either on- board a ship, or on shore.
Penalty.
1. Confinement, with, or without, hard labor, not exceeding two weeks,- or a penalty not exceeding 20 shillings, or both-according to the particular gravity of the offense, and its frequency.
2. Either of the above penalties.
2. Contempt of the authority of the magistrate on any occasion of inquiry.
3. Disobedience of orders to desist 3. Confinement in the like manner, from riotous conduct, or abusive and not exceeding 14 days,-or a penalty, menacing language tending to the dis- not exceeding £2 10s.; or both accord- turbance of the peace and of due suboring to the circumstances. dination.
4. Ringleaders in riots, attended with violence towards officers, or resistance to the magistrate, or the constables of police, engaged in the restoration of
the peace.
4. Confinement in like manner, not exceeding one calendar month,- -or a penalty not exceeding £5,—or both, according to the circumstances.
REG. NO. 2. A decision against a prisoner involving higher penalties, or longer confinement, than those set down in the 1st and 2d specification, needs the the sanction of the head of the government, or in his absence of