should be months after be repealed as far as there other Secret Societies were concerned.
As to its limitation in respect of the Triad Society I can but suggest that the reason, perhaps, was that the object of the Society did not then in any way affect good order, peace or security of Hongkong, the Government did not think it necessary to punish mere membership unless it showed itself actively and outwardly by unlawful acts.
But things have changed greatly and the report of the recent Commission on the Triad Society proves that stringent measures must now be taken to prevent honest and lawful traders from being mercilessly oppressed and interfered with in their business.
We cannot protect traders, boatmen and others who are now the prey of these Societies, they will either leave the Colony or quietly submit to the exactions and recoup themselves in another way from commerce of the Colony, and from the lawful. In these days of severe competition if this port gets a bad reputation for high prices or exactions, trade will soon seek other ports.
The present law is in my opinion wholly inoperative for looking at the intention of the framers of Ordinance 10 of 1845 to exempt members of all other Secret Societies from any penalty for belonging to them, and limiting the application of Ordinance 1 of 1845 to those members of the Triad Society who should be guilty of active participation in some unlawful act arising out of their connection with the Society, I have strong doubt whether a conviction could be obtained unless it was proved that the act had reference to whatever unlawful act the objects of the Society at the time, and to punish which the Ordinance was passed; or to put it otherwise whether Ordinance 12 of 1845 would be applicable to such cases of the Triad Society squeezing money from coolie emigrants.
4.
should bew months after be repealed as far as there other Secret Societies were concerned.
the
As to it limitation in respect of the
viao
that
Friad Society I ocen but suggest that the reason perhaps,
as the object of the Society
did not then in any way affect good order, peace or security of Hongkong, the Government did not think it recessary to punish more membership idees it shewed itself actively and outwardly
unlawful acts.
in some
But things have changed greatly and the report of the recent Commission
022
the
easures
Triad Society proves that stringent masars must now be taken prevent honest
trien aud
lawful traders
from being
mercilessly appreced and interfered wett in their business.
traders, boatmen
of we cannot protect traders,
and others who are now
Or
now
the prey of there
Societies, they will either leave the Colony quietly submit to the exaction and recoup the ensolves in another way
from
commerce
314
ہو
of the Colony, a
and
from the lawful in these days of severe competition if this post gets a bad reputation for high prices Or excactions, trade will soon seek other ports,
The present law is in
my opinion...... wholly inoperative for looking at the intention of the framers of Ordinance 10f1845 to. axempt members of all other Secret Societies from any penalty for belonging to them, and limiting the application of Orlinance 1 of 1845 to those meubers of the Friad Society who should be guilty of active participation in some unlawful
unlawful act arising out of this connection with the Society, I have strong
doubt whether a conviction could be
ཤག།
obtained unless it was proved that the
act had
to what evere
unclawful act
reference
the objects of the Society at the time, and to punish which the Ordinance was – parsed; or to put it otherwice whether Ordinance 12 of 1845 would be applicable to such cacks of the Triad Society. equeezing money from coolic emigrants
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