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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH JUNE, 1881.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 208.

ABOLITION OF FLogging in THE ARMY.

With reference to Government Notification No. 179 of the 26th of July, 1880, the following Act of Parliament, which has been communicated to His Excellency the Governor by the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for War, is published for general information.

By His Excellency's Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 9th June, 1881. ·

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

CHAPTER 9.

A.D. 1881.

42 & 43 Vict., c. 33.

Short title.

WE

An Act to provide during twelve months for the Discipline and Regulation of the Army.

[8th April 1881.]

HEREAS the raising or keeping a standing army within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in time of peace, unless it be with the consent of Parliament, is against law:

And whereas it is adjudged necessary by Her Majesty, and this present Parliament, that a body of forces should be continued for the safety of the United Kingdom, and the defence of the possessions of Her Majesty's Crown, and that the whole number of such forces should consist of one hundred and thirty-four thousand and sixty men, including those to be employed at the depôts in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ire- land for the training of recruits for service at home and abroad, but exclusive of the numbers actually serving within Her Majesty's Indian possessions:

And whereas it is also judged necessary for the safety of the United Kingdom, and the defence of the possessions of this realm, that a body of Royal Marine forces should be employed in Her Majesty's fleet and naval service, under the direction of the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, or the Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral aforesaid:

And whereas the said marine forces may frequently be quartered or be on shore, or sent to do duty or be on board transport ships or merchant ships or vessels, or ships or vessels of Her Majesty, or other ships or vessels, or they may be under other circum- stances in which they will not be subject to the laws relating to the government of Her Majesty's forces by sea:

And whereas no man can be forejudged of life or limb, or subjected in time of peace to any kind of punishment within this realm by martial law, or in any other manner than by the judgment of his peers, and according to the known and established laws of this realm; yet nevertheless it being requisite, for the retaining all the before- mentioned forces, and other persons subject to military law, in their duty, that an exact discipline be observed, and that persons belonging to the said forces who mutiny or stir up sedition, or desert Her Majesty's service, or are guilty of crimes and offences to the prejudice of good order and military discipline, be brought to a more exemplary and speedy punishment than the usual forms of the law will allow:

on the

And whereas the Army Discipline and Regulation Act, 1879, will expire- (a.) In the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man,

thirtieth day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one; and (b.) Elsewhere in Europe, inclusive of Malta, also in the West Indies and America, on the thirty-first day of July one thousand eight hundred and eighty- one; and

(c.) Elsewhere, whether within or without Her Majesty's dominions, on the thirty-

first day of December one thousand eight hundred and eighty-one; Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. This Act may be cited as the Army Discipline and Regulation (Annual) Act. 1881.