628774-1899-Draft-Bills-proposed-to-be-introduced-into-the-Legislative-Council--Hongkong-Extension-Exemption-Local-Communities-New-Territories-Regulation — Page 4

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 8TH APRIL, 1899.

Rules rela- ting to watchmen

and contri- butions.

Rules to be gazetted

and public- ly notified

locally.

Enforcement of Rules.

District ank Sub-district Courts and their consti- tation.

Decisions of Court.

Jurisdiction.

of, the territory to which this Ordinance applies, and for the making, improvement or maintenance, in such territory or the waters thereof, of any roads, paths, harbours, piers, wharvos, landing places, or beacons, and may by such Rules impose penalties not exceeding in each case ten dollars for any breach of any such Rule.

In the case of a continued breach additional penalties not exceeding ten dollars a day may be imposed in each case.

8. The Governor-in-Council may, from time to time, make such Rules as he may deem expedient for the appointment of watchmen in any District or Sub-district and for the levying in any District or Sub-district of, and the collection, recovery by legal proceedings, and safe custody of, and the keeping of accounts of, such contributions as may be re- quired for the payment of such watchmen and for other purposes connected with the due observance and enforce- ment of any Rules made under this Ordinance.

9.—(1.) All Rules made by the Governor-in-Council under this Ordinance shall be published in the Gazette in English and Chinese, and shall thereupon become as valid and binding as if inserted in this Ordinance.

(2.) Such Rules shall be publicly notified in Chinese by the Colonial Secretary in the Districts and Sub-districts subject to their operation, and copies in English and Chi- nese, certified by him as correct, shall be duly recorded in such Districts and Sub-districts, in such manner as he shall direct.

V.--Duties of Committees as regards Rules.

10. It shall be the duty of the respective District and Sub-district Committees, as the case may be, to enforce, under the supervision of such officers as the Governor may appoint, and with the assistance of the watchmen and other officers (if any) so directed by the Governor, all Rules made under this Ordinance in force in their respective Districts or Snb-districts.

VI.---Local Tribunals in Districts and Sub-districts.

11. The Governor-in-Council may establish local tri- bunals in any Districts or Sub-districts brought under the operation of this Ordinance with such jurisdiction as is hereinafter set forth. Such tribunals shall be called District Courts or Sub-district Courts as the case may be. A District Court shall be presided over by the Chairman of the District Committee or such other officer as the Governor may appoint to act as President, and such President shall be assisted by the members of the District Committee or by a quorum thereof consisting of not less than three of such members.

A Sub-district Court shall be presided over by the Chair- man of the Sub-district Committee or such other officer, as the Governor may appoint to act as President, and such President shall be assisted by the members of the Sub- district Committee or by a quorum thereof consisting of not. less than two of such members.

A District Court shall be a Court of Appeal from any Sub-district Court situated within its District. In cases, however, which do not fall within the jurisdiction of any Sab-district Court, the District Court which possesses jurisdiction shall be a Court of first instance.

12. The decision of any such Court shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members, but in case of an equality of votes the President shall have a casting vote in addition to his original vote.

13. The President, assisted by the other members of the Court as hereinbefore prescribed, shall sit in open Court, at such times and places as occasion may require, or the Governor may prescribe, to try breaches of any Rules made under this Ordinance and also to exercise civil and criminal jurisdiction in the cases hereinafter described if the parties thereto are natives or if the parties thereto, whether natives or not, consent in writing to their case being tried by such Court.

Civil.

(1.) All cases in which the debt, damage, or demand shall not exceed one hundred dollars, and the party defendant is a resident within the District or Sub-