CO129-592-18 Future policy and draft proclamations- custodians of property 1-8-1945 - 31-8-1945 — Page 23

Ι

BRITISH MILITARY ADMINISTRATION, HONG KONG

23

Proclamation No.

of 194

CUSTODIAN.

DO HEREBY PROCLAIM.

Article I

Short Title. This Proclamation may be cited as the Custodian Proclamation, 194

Article 2

Interpretation. In this Proclamation the following words and expressions shall unless the context otherwise requires, have the meanings hereby assigned to them respectively -

(1) "Custodian" means the person appointed by the Chief

Civil Affairs Officer to be Custodian of Property.

"Property" includes all forms of movable or immovable property and all rights, title or interest to or in any such property.

(2)

Article 3

Appointment of Custodian. The Chief Civil Affairs Officer shall appoint an officer to be Custodian of Property in the Colony of Hong Kong and also such Assistant Custodians of Property and other persons as may be deemed to be necessary for carrying out the provisions of this Proclamation.

Article 4

Functions of Custodian.

(1) The Custodian may take into his custody so far as the nature and conditions of such property, the needs of the Allied Forces or military exigencies permit:-

(a)

The property of any State, other than an Enemy State, not otherwise properly safeguarded;

(b) The property of any British, Allied or Neutral

(c)

National who is neither in the Colony nor satisfactorily represented there or who, being in the Colony, is unable effectively to administer such property;

Any property the owners of which, whatever their nationality, are unknown or whose present whereabouts are unknown.

(a) Any property he may deem necessary to take into his

custody for preserving the same from loss or damage.

(2) Provided that nothing herein contained shall impose any duty on the Custodian to take any such property into custody.

(3) Any taking into custody shall be notified by declaration of custody posted in the office of the Custodian and in the case of immovables, on the immovable. As soon as practicable such declaration shall be notified in the Hong Kong (B.M.A.) Gazette.

Article 5.