663247-1887-Bills-read-The-Triad-and-Secret-Societies-Arms — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22ND JANUARY, 1887.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance for the Suppression of the Triad Society and other Secret Societies and for the Punishment of the Members thereof.

E it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the

Be

lows:-

as

1. This Ordinance may be cited as The Triad and Secret Societies Ordinance, 1887.

2. The Triad Society and other Secret Societies by whatever name known, are hereby declared to be unlawfal societies, and any person acng as manager or office bearer, or assisting in any way in the conduct of the busi- ness of, or in managing the affairs of any such unlawful societies shall be guilty of a misdemeanour and shall be liable upon conviction in the Supreme Court to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars, or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding twelve months with or without hard labour, or to both fine and imprisonment; and any person who is a member of, or who attends and takes part in any meeting of any such unlawful society, or who subscribes or pays money, or gives aid or procures from others subscriptions, money or aid, for or towards the maintenance of any such unlawful society shall be liable upon conviction in the Supreme Court to a fine not ex- ceeding five hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for any period not exceeding six months with or without hard labour, or to both fine and imprisonment.

3. All meetings of the said Societies are hereby declared to be unlawful and prohibited accordingly.

4. It shall be lawful for any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace to enter with or without assistance or to order any Police Officer or other person, in his presence, or by warrant under his hand and seal to enter with or without assistance, using force in either case if necessary, into any dwelling-house or other building, or into any place in which he may have reasonable ground to believe that a meeting of any society declared by this Ordinance to be unlawful is being held, contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance, or that five or more persons belonging to any such illegal society are unlawfully assembled, and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons found at any such meeting or assembly, and to search the premises and seize or cause to be seized all books, papers, documents, flags, insignia, arms and other articles which he may have reasonable cause to believe to belong to any Society, or to be in any way connected with the purposes of the meeting or assembly.

5. All persons so arrested and all articles so seized may be detained in custody till they can conveniently be brought before a Magistrate, where they shall be dealt with accord- ing to law.

6. If, at any such meeting or assembly, any oath, or any engagement, obligation, or promise relating to the objects of any unlawful society be administered to or ten- dered to any person, or if any form of oath be found or if copies of any Rules or Regulations or engagements, obli- gations or promises, or lists or names of members of any society, or if any insignia, banners, writings, paintings, drawings or other articles relating or belonging to any unlawful society be found, the finding thereof or the fact of an oath or an engagement, obligation, or promise having been administered or tendered at the meeting or assembly, shall be prima facie evidence that the meeting or assembly was an unlawful assembly.

7. Any person attending an unlawful assembly as de- fined in this Ordinance knowing that the assembly was an unlawful assembly, and any person continuing to attend such an assembly after having been warned by any Magis- trate, Justice of the Peace, or Police Officer that the assembly is an unlawful assembly, shall be liable on conviction in the Supreme Court to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour for any period not exceeding six months, or to both.

8. Any person knowingly allowing an unlawful assem- bly, or a meeting or assembly contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance, 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 conviction in the Supreme Court

Penalty fo managers.

Penalty for members.

Meetings unlawful.

Magistrate, kc., may enter house, &c., where unlaw- ful meeting held. (Straits Settlement Ord. 19 of 1869, s. 8.)

And may arrest and seize personS and property found,

Persons and property so seized to be taken before Magistrate. (Straits Settle- ments Ord. 19 of 1869, s. 9.)

What to be deemed prima facie evidence of unlawful assembly, (Straits Settle- ment Ord, 19 of 1869, s. 10.)

Penalty for

unla

assembly. (Straits Settlement

Ord. 19 of 186 M. IL)

Persons allow- ing unlawful assembly in their premises. (Straits Settle- ment Ord. 19 of 1869, s. 12.)

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