Directory_and_Chronicle_1885 — Page 714

H. B. M. SUBJECTS IN CHINA AND JAPAN.

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97. If any person navigating a British veesel wilfully violates, or Seizure of vessel. wilfully attempts to violate, any such Regulation, the officer commanding any vessel of war of Her Majesty, or in charge of any boat belonging to such vessel of war, may use force for the purpose of compelling him to desist from the violation or attempted violation of the Regulation, and if it appears necessary or expedient may seize the vessel, and such Command- ing Officer may either detain her at the place of seizure, or take her, or cause her to be taken to any port or place in Japan or elsewhers where the offender may be more conveniently prosecuted for such offence.

Any such vessel may lawfully be detained at the place of seizure, or at the port or place to which she is so taken, under the authority of any such Commanding Officer, or of any of Her Majesty's Consular Officers in Japan, until the conclusion of any proceedings taken in respect of the offence.

X.-PIRACE.

tu pirvoy.

98. Any British subject being in China or in Japan may be proceeded Jurisdiction as against, tried, and punished under this Order for the crime of piracy" wherever committed.

99. If the Court before which a British subject charged with the crime Report by of piracy is brought is a Provincial Court, the Court shall report to the Provincial Court, Judge of the Supreme Court the pendency of the case.

The Judge of the Supreme Court shall thereupon direct in what mode and where the case shall be heard and determined, and (notwithstanding anything in this Order) the case shall be so heard and determined accord ingly.

XI.-OFFENCES AGAINST RELIGION.

aummary way

or religious

fitutions,

100. If any British subject is guilty of publicly deriding, mocking, or Punishment in insulting any religion established or observed in China or in Japan-or of for public insul publicly offering any insult to any religious service, feast, or ceremony to religion established or kept in any part of China or in Japan, or to any place for worship, tomb, or sanctuary belonging to any such religion, or to the ministers or professors thereof,-ot of wilfully committing any act tending to bring any such religion or its ceremonies, mode of worship, or observances into hatred, ridicule, or contempt, and thereby to provoke a breach of the public peace, he shall be liable (in the discretion of the Court before which he is convicted) to imprisonment for any term not exceeding two years, with or without hard labour, and with or without a fine not exceed- ing 500 dollars, or to a fine not exceeding 500 dollars without imprisonment.

Notwithstanding anything in this Order, every charge against a British subject of having committed any such offence shall be heard and deter- mined in a summary way, and any Provincial Court shall have power to impose the punishment aforesaid.

Her Majesty's Consular Officers shall take such precautionary measures as seem to them proper and expedient for the prevention of

such offences.

and Jupan

XIL-AUTHORITY WITHIN 100 MILES OF THE COAST OF CHINA.

101. Where a British subject, being after the commencement of this Jurisdiction of Order in China or in Japan, is charged with having committed, either Courts in Chine before or after the commencement of this Order, any crime or offence within a British vessel at a distance of not more than 100 miles from the coast of China,--or within a Chinese or Japanese vessel at such a distance as aforesaid, or within a vessel not lawfully entitled to claim the protec tion of the flag of any State, at such distance as aforesaid, any of Her Majesty's Courts in China or in Japan within the jurisdiction whereof he is found may cause him to be apprehended, and brought before it, and may take the preliminary examination and commit him for trial.