713618-1866-HONGKONG-ANNO-TRICESIMO-VICTORIE-REGINE-NO-9-OF-1866- — Page 4

346

Sittings of Court.

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH AUGUST, 1866.

Place in which Court sits to be deemed an open Court.

Seal of the Court.

Officers of Court.

Power to Adjourn.

Members to take an Oath.

the other Members of the Court, and shall have also a Casting Vote whenever upon any Question the Votes shall be equally divided.

XII. The Place at which the Court shall sit in 'Discharge of its Duties, shall be such place as may from time to time be appointed for that purpose by the Governor, XIII. The Place in which the Court shall sit to hear and determine any matter shall be deemed an open Court to which the Public generally may have access.

་

XIV. The Governor shall direct a Seal to be made for the Court and may direct the same to be broken, altered and renewed at his Discretion, and all Documents issuing from the Court shall be sealed with the said Seal.

XV. The Registrar and other Officers of the Supreme Court shall attend the sittings of "the High Court of Hongkong for the Suppression of Piracy," and assist in the Proceedings thereof, and whilst so attending and assisting shall be styled Officers of such last-mentioned Court.

XVI. It shall be in the Power of the Court to adjourn the Proceedings from Time to Time to any Day or Days to be fixed by them in the event of the absence of Witnesses or of any other cause which shall appear to them expedient.

XVII. Every Member of the Court before he shall enter upon the Execution of any of the Duties of his Office shall take an Oath in the presence of His Excellency the Governor in the Form following (that is to say)----

6

"I, A. B., do solemnly Swear that I will according to the best of my skill and "knowledge, act in the Execution of my Office of Member of the High Court of "Hongkong for the Suppression of Piracy' faithfully, impartially, fairly, and with- "cut Prejudice either for or against Prosecutors or Prisoners, or any other Persons. "So Help me God."

Registrar and other. And every Registrar and other Officer of the Court before he enters on the Duties of his Office shall take an Oath before one of the Members of the Court who shall be empowered to administer the same in the Form following (that is to say)-

Officers to take an Oath.

Attorney General to prosecute.

Committal of

Offences connected

with Piracy.

Attorney General

6

"I, A.B., do solemnly Swear that I will according to the best of my skill and "knowledge act in the Execution of my Office, and that I will conduct myself with Respect to the Authority of the Members of the High Court of Hongkong for the Suppression of Piracy' to which Court I am attached and will Act with Fidelity "in all the affairs which may belong to my Charge, and without Reference or Favor "either for Prosecutors or Prisoners, or any other Persons. So Help me God."

it

XVIII. For the Purpose of bringing any Offence under the cognizance of the Court, an Information shall be signed by the Attorney General.

or any

every

Person who, but

XIX. From and after the commencement of this Ordinance Prisoners for Trial for for this Ordinance, would be committed for Trial before the Supreme Court for Piracy Offence connected therewith shall in lieu thereof be committed for Trial before the Court established by this Ordinance. Provided always that the Attorney General if he shall think expedient so to do, may direct that the Trial of any Person take place at Supreme committed for Trial before the said Court shall take place before the Supreme Court in cases where the Supreme Court has Jurisdiction to try the Offence for which such Person shall have been committed as aforesaid.

may direct Trial to

Court in certain

Cases.

What Rules of Evidence to be observed.

False Witness to be

XX. The Rules of Evidence observed in the Supreme Court in its Criminal Jurisdiction shall, except as herein specially provided, and until otherwise provided by competent Authority in that behalf, be applicable to, and observed in, the Trial of all Questions of Fact in the Court established in pursuance of this Ordinance.

Oath upon

or upon

XXI. Every Person who upon any Examination

Affirmation Summarily punished. or Declaration before the Court shall in its Opinion have wilfully and corruptly given false Evidence shall be sentenced without further Trial to a Term of Imprisonment not exceeding Eighteen Months with or without Hard Labor.

Practice of the Court.

1

XXII. The Practice of the Court shall, except where otherwise herein pro vided or by the Rules or Orders to be from Time to Time made and approved under the Provisions hereof, be, so far as the Circumstances of the Case will admit, according to the present Practice of the Supreme Court.