709454-1868-HONGKONG-ANNO-TRICESIMO-PRIMO-VICTORIE-REGINIE-SIR-RICHARD-GRAVES-MACDONNELL-Knight-C-B--Governor-and-Commander-in-Chief-NO-4-OF-1868- — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD MAY, 1868.

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III. The Force of Firemen established under this Ordinance shall be called the Constitution of Fire "Hongkong Fire Brigade," and shall be under the Command of an Officer to be called Brigade. the "Superintendent of the Hongkong Fire Brigade." The Superintendent and Men composing the said Fire Brigade shall be appointed and removed at the pleasure of the Governor.

Brigade, &c.

IV. The Governor in Council shall from Time to Time fix the amount of Salaries and Salaries, &c. and Working-pay to be payable to Members of the said Fire Brigade, and may also make Gratuities of Fire Regulations fixing the amount of Compensation to be made to them in case of accident or to their Wives or Families in case of their Death, and likewise the Gratuities to be paid to Persons giving Notices of Fires, and those to be from Time to Time awarded to any Member of the said Force or to any other Person for Extraordinary Services performed in Cases of Fire, and the Governor is hereby authorized to make all payments so ordered by the Governor in Council aforesaid out of any monies belonging to the Colony.

Regulations for Fire

V. The Governor in Council may make Regulations for the Training, Discipline Power to make and good Conduct of the Men belonging to the said Fire Brigade, for their Speedy Brigade. attendance with Engines and all necessary Implements on the occasion of any Alarm of Fire and generally for the maintenance in a due state of efficiency of the said Brigade and may annex to any Breach of such Regulations, Penalties not exceeding in amount Twenty-five Dollars.

VI. On the occasion of a Fire the Superintendent or other Officer in Charge of the As to Powers of Fire Fire Brigade may in his Discretion take the command of any Volunteer Fire Brigade or Brigade. other Persons who voluntarily place their Services at his Disposal and may remove or order any Fireman to remove any Persons interfering by their Presence with the Opera- tions of the Fire Brigade and generally may take such measures as may appear expedient for the Protection of Life and Property and may himself or his Men break into or through and take possession of or blow up with Gunpowder or pull down any Pre- mises for the Purpose of putting an end to a Fire, and any Officer or Member of the Fire Brigade acting bonâ fide under this Ordinance and the Powers hereby conferred shall not be liable to any Damages for any act done under this Section. The Superintendent of the said Fire Brigade or other Officer in charge thereof may close any Street in or near which a Fire is burning and may remove any Persons who interfere by their Presence with the Operations of the Fire Brigade. Any Damage occasioned by the Fire Brigade in the Execution of their Duties shall be deemed to be Damage by Fire within the Meaning of any Policy of Insurance against Fire.

intendent of Police

VII. The Powers given to the Superintendent of Police by Section VIII of Ordi- Powers of Super- nance No. 9 of 1857 are hereby transferred to the Superintendent or Officer in Charge under Ordinance No. of the Fire Brigade for the time being.

9 of 1857 transferred to Superintendent of Fire Brigade.

VIII. There shall be levied Quarterly on the Crown Lessees of all Lands in the Fire Brigade Rate to Districts comprised within the City of Victoria, a Rate to be called a Fire Brigade be imposed. Rate not exceeding Three-fourths per cent per Annum on the gross Annual value of Property set forth in the Police Rate Assessment for each Current Year, and the first levy of the said Rate shall be made for the Third Quarter of the Year 1868; and the said Rate shall be applied in maintaining the said Fire Brigade, and in defraying all Expenses connected therewith.

IX. This Ordinance, Ordinance No. 12 of 1860, Ordinance No. 5 of 1863 and Ordinances to be Ordinance No. 11 of 1867, shall be construed together and for all requisite Purposes be construed together. deemed and taken as One Ordinance and the Ways and Means for carrying this Ordi- nance into effect, shall be the same as prescribed by the Two last mentioned Ordinances.

X. All Offences under this Ordinance shall be triable before One of the Police Offences how triable. Magistrates, who shall have Power to enforce all Penalties hereby imposed, or which may be imposed by any Order of the Governor in Council.

XI. This Ordinance shall come into force on such Day as shall hereafter be fixed Commencement of by Proclamation under the Hand of the Governor.

Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 22nd Day of May, 1868.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.

Ordinance.