636154-1897-Queen-s-Proclamation-of-Neutrality-War-between-Turkey-and-Greece — Page 2

498

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12TH JUNE, 1897.

And whereas We, being desirous of preserving to our Subjects the Blessings of Peace, which they now happily enjoy, are firmly purposed and determined to maintain a strict and impartial Neutrality in the said State of War unhappily existing between the aforesaid Sovereigns:

We, therefore, have thought fit, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council, to issue this Our Royal Proclamation:

And We do hereby strictly charge and command all Our loving Subjects to govern themselves accordingly, and to observe a strict Neutrality in and during the aforesaid War, and to abstain from violating or contravening either the Laws and Statutes of the Realm in this behalf, or the Law of Nations in relation thereto, as they will answer to the contrary at their peril ;

And whereas in and by a certain Statute made and passed in a Session of Parliament holden in the 33rd and 34th year of Our Reign, intituled "An Act to regulate the conduct of Her Majesty's Subjects during the existence of hostilities between Foreign States with which Her Majesty is at Peace," it is, amongst other things, declared and enacted as follows. This Act shall extend to all the Dominions of Her Majesty, including the adjacent territorial Waters :--

"Illegal Enlistment.

"If any person, without the licence of Her Majesty, being a British Subject, within or without Her Majesty's Dominions, accepts or agrees to accept any Commission or Engagement in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with any Foreign State at Peace with Her Majesty, and in this Act referred to as a friendly State, or, whether a British Subject or not, within Her Majesty's Dominions, induces any other person to accept or agree to accept any Commission or Engagement in the Military or Naval Service of any such Foreign State as aforesaid-

"He shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and shall be punishable by fine and imprison- ment, or cither of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court before which the offender is convicted; and imprisonment, if awarded, may be either with or without hard labour. "If any person, without the Licence of Her Majesty, being a British Subject, quits or goes on board any Ship with a view of quitting Her Majesty's Dominions, with intent to accept any Commis. sion or Engagement in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with a friendly State, or, whether a British Subject or not, within Her Majesty's Dominions, induces any other person to quit or to go on board any Ship with a view of quitting Her Majesty's Dominions with the like

intent-

"He shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and shall be punishable by fine and imprison- ment, or either of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court before which the offender is convicted; and imprisonment, if awarded, may be either with or without hard labour, "If any person induces any other person to quit Her Majesty's Dominions or to embark on any Ship within Her Majesty's Dominions under a Misrepresentation or false Representation of the Service in which such person is to be engaged, with the intent or in order that such person may accept or agree to accept any Commission or Engagement in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with a friendly State,-

"He shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and shall be punishable by fine and imprison- ment, or either of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court before which the offender is convicted; and imprisonment, if awarded, may be either with or without hard labour. "If the Master or Owner of any ship, without the licence of Her Majesty, knowingly either takes on board, or engages to take on board, or has on board such ship within Her Majesty's Dominious of the following Persons, in this Act referred to as illegally enlisted persons; that is to say,-

any

"(1.) Any person who, being a British Subject within or without the Dominions of Her Majesty, has, without the licence of Her Majesty, accepted or agreed to accept any Commission or En- gagement in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with any friendly

State:

"(2.) Any person, being a British Subject, who, without the licence of Her Majesty, is about to quit Her Majesty's Dominions with intent to accept any Commission or Engagement in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with a friendly State:

(3.) Any person who has been induced to embark under a Misrepresentation or false Representa- tion of the Service in which such person is to be engaged, with the intent or in order that such person may accept or agree to accept any commission or engagement in the Military or Naval Service of any Foreign State at War with a friendly State:

"Such Master or Owner shall be guilty of an offence against this Act, and the following con- sequences shall ensue; that is to say.

"(1.) The offender shall be punishable by fine and imprisonment, or either of such punishments, at the discretion of the Court before which the offender is convicted; and imprisonment, if awarded, may be either with or without hard labour; and

"(2.) Such Ship shall be detained until the Trial and Conviction or Acquittal of the Master or Owner, and until all Penalties inflicted on the Master or Owner have been paid, or the Master or Owner has given security for the payinent of such penalties to the satisfaction of two Justices of the Peace, or other Magistrate or Magistrates having the authority of two Justices of the Peace; and