No. 25 of 1897.
An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Vagrants.
WILLIAM ROBINSON,
Governor.
[22nd November, 1897.]
Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:--
1. This Ordinance may be cited as The Vagrancy Ordinance, 1897.
2. In this Ordinance unless the context otherwise requires,---
“Vagrant" means any person other than a Chinese found asking for alms or being without either employment or visible means of subsistence.
"Agent" of a vessel includes any person who undertakes the agency of such vessel, though he may not be the consignee thereof.
3. The Governor may provide a House of Detention for Vagrants at such place as he may think proper, and may appoint a Superintendent and such Officers as he may think proper, and may remove any such Superintendent or Officers at pleasure.
In the meantime, the Gaol at Victoria may be used as such House for the purpose of this Ordinance.
The Governor may, by notification in The Gazette, certify any building or part of a building to be a House of Detention for the purposes of this Ordinance.
4. Every House of Detention shall be under the immediate charge of a Superintendent who shall be appointed, and may be suspended or removed, by the Governor, and until any other appointment is made, the Superintendent of Victoria Gaol for the time being shall be the Superintendent of the House of Detention.
5. Any Police Officer may require any person who is apparently a Vagrant to accompany him or any other Police Officer to, and to appear before, a Magistrate.
6. Such Magistrate shall, in such case, or in any other case where a person apparently a Vagrant comes before him, make a summary enquiry into the circumstances of such apparent Vagrant and, if satisfied that he is a Vagrant, shall declare him to be such, adding, where practicable, any prior date from which, in his opinion, such person has, in this Colony, been a Vagrant as defined by this Ordinance.
7. If such Magistrate shall be further of opinion that such Vagrant is not likely to obtain employment at once, or if he has reason to believe that a declaration of vagrancy has on any former occasion been recorded in respect of such Vagrant, he shall require such Vagrant to go to a House of Detention, and shall draw up an order to that effect.
8. Such Vagrant shall then be placed in charge of the Police for the purpose of being forwarded to the House of Detention, and the said order shall be a sufficient authority to the Police for retaining him in their charge while he is on his way to the House of Detention, and to the Superintendent of the House of Detention for receiving and detaining such Vagrant.
9. Where the Magistrate dealing with such Vagrant is of opinion that the Vagrant is likely to obtain employment in the Colony, such Magistrate may, in his discretion, forward the Vagrant in charge of the Police to the place where such employment is likely to be obtained and may draw up an order to that effect. Such order shall be a sufficient authority to the Police for retaining the Vagrant in their charge whilst on his way to such place of employment, and afterwards, should he not succeed in obtaining such employment.
19
No. 25 or 1897.
Au Ordinance to amend the Law relating to
Vagrants.
LS
WILLIAM ROBINSON,
[22nd November, 1897.]
Governor.
M 2449
1089
İREG 17 JAN 23
455
Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with
the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:--
1. This Ordinance may be eital as The Vagraney Or- Short title. dinance, 1897.
2. In this Ordinance muless the context otherwise re- Interpreta-
tion. quires.---
“Vagrant" moans any person other than a Chinese found asking for alms or being without either em- ployment or visible means of subsistence. "Agent" of a vessel includes any person who under- takes the agency of such vessel, though he may not be the consignes thereof.
3. The Governor may provide a House of Detention for Governor. Vaginats at such place as he may think proper, and may House of De-
ray provide appoint a Superintendent and such Officers as he may tention; in think proper, and may reinovo any such Superintendent or the meantime Officers at pleasure.
Victurin Gaol
such.
The Governor way, by notification in The Gazette, certify declared as any building or part of a building to be a House of Detention for the purposes of this Onliance, and natii any such house he provided the Gaol at Victoria may be used as such bouse for the purpose of this Ordinance.
4. Every House of Detention shall be under the imme- Superintend- diate charge of a Superintendent who shall be appolated, ent of House wid may be suspended or removed, by the Govertor, and of Detention. until any other appointment is made the Superintendent of Victoria Guol for the time being shall be the Superintendent
of the House of Detention.
5. Auy Police Officer may require any person who is Conveyance apparently & Vagrant to accompany him or any other Police before Officer to, and to appear before, a Magistrate.
Magistrate.
6. Such Magistrate shall, in such case, or in any other Magistrate case where a person apparently a Vagrant comes before may declare him, make a summary enquiry into the circumstances of a person to
be a vagrant. ench apparent Vagrant and, if satisfied that he is a Vagrant, shall déclare him to be such, adding, where practicable, any prior date from which, in his opinion, such person has, in this Colony, beon a Vagrant as defined by this Onli
nance.
Detention.
7. If such Magistrate shall be further of opinion that Committal such Vagraut is not likely to obtain employment at once, to House of or if he has reason to believe that a declaration of vagrancy has on any former occasion been recorded in rospect of such Vagrant, he sball require such Vagrant to go to a House of Detention, and shall draw up an order to that effect.
3. Such Vagrant shall then be placed in charge of the Power to Police for the purpose of being forwarded to the House of detain, Detention and the said order shall be a suflicient authority
to the Police for retaining him in their charge while he is ou his way to the House of Detention, and to the Super- intendent of the House of Detention for receiving and detaining snob Vagrant.
9. Where the Magistrate dealing with such Vagrant is Magistrate of opinion that the Vagrant is likely to obtain employment way forward in the Colouy, such Magistrato may, in his discretion, forward to place of
employment. the Vagrant in charge of the Police to the place where such employment is likely to be obtained and may draw up an order to that effet. Such order shall be a sufficient authority to the Police for retaining the Vagrant in their charge whilst on his way to such place of employment, and afterwards, should he not succeed in obtaining such employment.
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