CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5] — Page 188

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance to provide for the compulsory provision of services of non-combatants in the defence of the Colony in the event of war.

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

1. This Ordinance shall be cited as the Emergency Labour in time of War Ordinance.

2. Whenever it shall appear to be necessary for the defence of the Colony it shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to declare by Proclamation to be published in the Government Gazette that the following provisions of this Ordinance shall be in force, and every such Proclamation shall remain in force until cancelled by Notification pub- lished in the Government Gazette.

3. It shall be lawful for the Governor to authorize such officer or officers as he may appoint in that behalf to sum- mon by writing or otherwise any number of persons resident, or being then within the Colony, then and there to be enrolled in and act as members of some one or more of the Corps enumerated in Schedule I hereto to assist as non-combatants in the defence of the Colony so long as the said Proclama- tion shall remain in force. Every such person so enrolled shall thereupon be deemed to have entered into a contract well and faithfully to serve His Majesty the King as a member of the Corps in which he shall have been enrolled so long as the said Proclamation shall remain in forca unless sooner duly discharged. Provided that it shall be lawful for the said officer or officers if it shall appear that there is good ani sufficient cause why any person so sum- mone should not be so enrolled, to graut such person 3 certificate of exemption from being enrolled during such period as may be prescribed in the certificate.

4. It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to add to, vary or amend, the Schedule appended hereto.

5. The Governor in Council may make rules and regu- lations for the remuneration, subsistence, management, and discipline of the members of each and every Corps en- rolled under the provisions of this Ordinance, and may appoint it and proper persons to have charge and control of each and every such Corps,

6. The members of each and every Corps enrolled under the provisions of this Ordinance shall obey all anch lawful commands as they may from time to time receive from the person or persons duly appointed to have charge and con- trol over them.

7. It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to direct the erection or provision of suitable premises for the accommodation of the members of each and every Corps enrollod under this Ordinance.

8. Any person who shall disobey a summons under sec- tion 2 of this Ordinance or who having been duly enrolled in accordance with the provisions of the said section shall neglect to render the sorvices for which he shall have been enrolled, shall be liable on summary conviction before a Magistrate to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars with or without imprisonment with hard labour for a term not exceeding three months.

9. Any person duly enrolled under the provisions of this Ordinance who shall commit a breach of any rule or regu- lation made under this Ordinance shall, on proof thereof to the satisfaction of the Senior Officer appointed to the ebarge and control of the Corps which such person shall be deemed to have contracted to serve, be liable to a fine not exceeding twenty-five dollars, or to be dismissed from the service of such Corps.

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