CO129-228 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [7-9] — Page 312

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trial at the Criminal Sessions, was liberated on giving bail of $2,000, and fled immediately afterwards from the Colony. It is said that some soldiers were sent to capture him, when it was found that he had gone; that he offered desperate resistance, and was killed after shooting several of them from the house where he had taken refuge.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your Most Obedient Humble Servant, Musch

Enclosure 1.

A BILL ENTITLED [15.9.86.] An Ordinance for the Suppression of the Triad Society and other Secret Societies and for the Punishment of the Members thereof.

Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:

1. This Ordinance may be cited as The Triad and Secret Societies Ordinance, 1888.

2. The Triad Society and other Secret Societies, by whatever name known, are hereby declared to be unlawful societies, and any person acting as manager or office bearer, or assisting in any way in the conduct of the business of, or in managing the affairs of any such unlawful societies shall be liable upon summary conviction before a Magistrate to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding twelve months with or without hard labour, or to both fine and imprisonment; and any person who is a member of, or who attends and takes part in any meeting of any such unlawful society, or who subscribes or pays money, or gives aid or procures from others subscriptions, money or aid, for or towards the maintenance of any such unlawful society shall be liable upon summary conviction before a Magistrate to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding six months with or without hard labour, or to both fine and imprisonment.

3. All meetings of the said Societies are hereby declared to be unlawful and prohibited accordingly.

4. It shall be lawful for any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace to enter with or without assistance, or to order any Police Officer or other person, in his presence, or by warrant under his hand and seal to enter with or without assistance, using force in either case if necessary, into any dwelling-house or other building, or into any place in which he may have reasonable ground to believe that a meeting of any society declared by this Ordinance to be unlawful is being held, contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance, or that five or more persons belonging to any such illegal society are unlawfully assembled, and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons found at any such meeting or assembly, and to search the premises and seize or cause to be seized all books, papers, documents, flags, insignia, arms and other articles which he may have reasonable cause to believe to belong to any Society, or to be in any way connected with the purposes of the meeting or assembly.

5. All persons so arrested and all articles so seized may be detained in custody till they can conveniently be brought before a Magistrate, where they shall be dealt with according to law.

6. If, at any such meeting or assembly, any oath, or any engagement, obligation, or promise relating to the objects of any unlawful society be administered to or tendered to any person, or if any form of oath be found, or if copies of any Rules or Regulations or engagements, obligations or promises, or lists or names of members of any society, or if any insignia, banners, writings, paintings, drawings or other articles relating or belonging to any unlawful society be found, the finding thereof or the fact of an oath or an engagement, obligation, or promise having been administered or tendered at the meeting or assembly, shall be prima facie evidence that the meeting or assembly was an unlawful assembly.

7. Any person attending an unlawful assembly as defined in this Ordinance knowing that the assembly was an unlawful assembly, and any person continuing to attend such an assembly after having been warned by any Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, or Police Officer that the assembly is an unlawful assembly, shall be liable on summary conviction before a Magistrate to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months, or to both.

C. O. 19711

RECO

RECR I NOV SE.

Penalty for managers,

Penalty for members.

Meetings unlawful.

Magistrate.

Be my enlarge house, where unlawful meeting held.

(Straits Settlement Ord 19 of 1869, s. 9.)

And way street, and seize persons and property towed.

Persons and property so arrested to be taken before Magistrate. (Straits Settlements Ord, 19 of 1869, s. 9.)

What tee her deemed prima facie evidence of unlawful Assembly. (Straits Settlement Ord. 19 of 1869, s. 10.)

Penalty for attending unlawful Assembly (Straits Settlement Ord. 19 of 1869, s. 11.)

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