Directory_and_Chronicle_1841 — Page 300

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The Hongkong Gazette.

MAY,

ART. IV. The Hongkong Gazette: Nos. 1 and 2, May 1st and 15th, 1841, containing official notices of the government and population of the island.

THESE two numbers afford the best information we have of the new

possession of the British crown in the east. "A gazette will be published, under the authority of the government of this island (Hongkong), at semi-monthly periods from this date,” May 1st 1841, "with a view to afford greater publicity to the general orders that may from time to time be issued by the officers of the British go- vernment and forces. The sheet will be filled up, when it is found necessary, by the insertion of such statistical returns and other pub- lic documents as shall be deemed valuable or interesting." The 1st number contains a translation of Keshen's memorial, published in our last, with the following public notices.

No. 1.

Captain William Caine, of her majesty's 26th (or Cameronian) regiment of in- fantry, is appointed Chief Magistrate of the island of Hongkong, pending her majesty's further pleasure, and all persons repairing thither are required to respect the authority in him vested, agreeably to the annexed warrant.

(Signed) CHARLES ELLIOT, H. M. Plenipotentiary,

Charged with the government of the island of Hongkong. WARRANT. BY CHARLES ELLIOT, esquire, her majesty's plenipotentiary, &c., &c., charged with the government of the island of Hongkong:

Pending her majesty's further pleasure, I do hereby constitute and appoint you, William Čaine, esquire, captain in her majesty's 26th (or Cameronian) regiment of infantry, to be Chief Magistrate of the island of Hongkong; and I do further authorize and require you to exercise authority, according to the laws, customs and usages of China, as near as may be (every description of torture excepted), for the preservation of the peace, and the protection of life and property over all the native inhabitants in the said island and the harbors thereof.

And I do further authorize and require you, in any case where the crime, ac. cording to Chinese law, shall involve punishments and penalties exceeding the following scale in severity, to remit the case for the judgment of the head of the government for the time being.

Scale: Imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for more than 3 months; or

penalties exceeding $400.

Corporal punishment exceeding 100 lashes.

Capital punishment.

And I do further require you, in all cases followed by sentence or infliction of punishment, to keep a record, containing a brief statement of the case, and copy of the sentence.

And I further authorize and require you to exercise magisterial and police au- thority over all persons whatever (other than natives of the island, or persons sub- ject to the mutiny act, or to the general law for the government of the fleet), who shall be found committing breaches of the peace, on shore or in the harbors of the island, or breaches of any regulation to be issued from time to time by this govern ment, according to the customs and usages of British police law.

And I do hereby authorize you, for the police purposes herein-before specified, to arrest, detain, discharge, and punish such offenders, according to the principles and practice.of general British police law.

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