23004-1911-Supplementary-Bill-to-be-read-a-first-time--Societies — Page 3

Persons allowing unlawful assembly

in their premises. Penalty.

Burden of proof as to definition of Society.

Presumptive proof of

632

13. Any person knowingly allowing a meeting of an unlawful Society, or of members of au unlawful Society, to be held in any house, building or place belonging to or occupied by him, or over which he has control, shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months.

14. If in any prosecution for an offence against the provisions of this Ordinance it shall be proved that a club, company, partnership or association exists and is neither a Registered nor an Exempted Society it shall be presumed until the contrary be proved that the club, company, part- nership or association is a Society within the meaning of this Ordinanco.

15.-(1.) When any of the books, accounts, writings, baumers or insignia of any Society are found in the posses-- membership. sion of any persou, it shall be presumed, until the contrary he proved, that such person is a member of such Society. and if such Society be a Triad Society or a branch of a Triad Society it shall be further presumed that such Society is an unlawful Society.

Triad Societies unlawful.

Presumptive proof of managing.

Governor in-

Comcil may

order dis solution of

any Society.

Consequence upon the dissolution of a Society,

(2.) When any of the books or accounts of any Society are found in the possession of any person it shall be further presumed, nutil the contrary be proved, that such person assists in the management of such Society.

16.---(1.) Whenever it may appear to the Governor-in- Council that any Registered Society or any Exempted Society is being used for unlawful purposes, or for pur- poses incompatible with the peace or good order of the Colony or that such Society exists mainly for the purpose of gaming or that gaming is carried on habitually and in such a manner and to such a degree as to be dangerous to- good order, or that the actions or proccedings of such Society are calculated to exente tumult or disorder in Chiun or to excite persons to crime in China, the Governor-in-Couueil may order that such Society be dissolved.

(2.) Notification of every such order shall be published in the Gazette, and shall be affixed in a conspicuous man-- mer on any building occupied by such Society, and at the Police Station of the District in which such building may

be.

(3.) Every Society against which an order of dissolation is made shall thenceforward be deemed to be an unlawful Society.

17.-(1) Upon the making of au order of dissolution against any Society the following consequences shall

ensue

(4.) The property of the Society within the Colony shall forthwith vest either in the Official Recei- ver in Bankruptcy or, if any other officer be appointed for the purpose of winding up by the Governor in the notification of the order, then in such officer.

(b.) The Official Receiver in Bankruptcy or such other officer shall proceed to wind up the affairs of the Society, and, after satisfying and pro- viding for all the debts and liabilities of the Society and the costs of the winding-up, shall divide the surplus assets (if any) of the Society amongst the members of the Society according to the rules of such Society (if any), or, if there are no such rules applicable to such case, then equally, but, if by reason of the great number of members, or the difficulty of ascertaining the persons entitled to such assets, or if from any other canse such a division as aforesaid is in the opinion of the Official Receiver or such other officer as aforesaid impracticable, he shall prepare and submit to a Judge of the Supreme Court for his approval a scheme for the appli- cation of aneh surplus assets to purposes for the benefit of that portion of the public to which the members of the Society more partientarly belonged, or of the public generally.