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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 22ND MARCH, 1862.

Formation of a Vol- anteer Corps autho- rized.

Commissioned Off-

cers to be appointed

by the Governor.

HONGKONG.

ANNO VICESIMO QUINTO VICTORIE REGINÆ.

No. 2 of 1862.

By His Excellency Sir HERCULES GEORGE ROBERT ROBINSON, Knight, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice- Admiral of the same, with the Advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

HERCULES G. R. ROBINSON. ·

An Ordinance to authorize the Enrolment of a Volunteer Force.

[17th March, 1862.]

'Be it enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:--

I. Such and so many of the Inhabitants of Hongkong as shall volunteer and offer themselves, and as His Excellency the Governor shall approve of, shall be permitted to form themselves into a Corps for the protection of the Colony of Hongkong, and such Corps shall be called the "HONGKONG VOLUNTEERS," and shall continue so formed during the pleasure of His Excellency the Governor; such Volunteers shall be ins- tructed in the use of the Rifle and in the management of Artillery, and be subject to drill accordingly.

II. The Governor shall appoint such Commissioned Officers as to him shall seem proper for such Corps.

Non-Commissioned III. The Commanding Officer of the Corps shall appoint the necessary non-Com- Officers to be appoint- missioned Officers.

ed by the Command-

ing Officer.

Commanding Offi-

cer to make and alter

IV. The Commanding Officer of the Corps shall, as soon as he conveniently can do Rules for the Corps. So, frame such Rules as he may deem proper for regulating the period of Enrolment, Arms, Dress, Accoutrements, and Equipment, of the said Corps and of the Members thereof, the Time and Place of Drill and Exercise, and all Matters relating to the En- rolment, Efficiency, and Discipline of the said Corps and of the Members thereof, which Rules inay be enforced by reasonable Fines and Penalties for breach thereof; and he shall from Time to Time alter and vary such Rules and Penaltics as to him shall seem fit.

Such Rules when confirmed by the Gov-

V. All such Rules and Alterations of Rules shall be submitted from Time to Time ernor to have same to His Excellency the Governor of the said Colony for the time being, and shall not force as to Members of have any force until confirmed by him; and all such Rules as shall be so made or alter- ed, and as shall be so confirmed, shall have the same force for the Regulation of the Mem- bers of the said Corps as if the same Rules so confirmed had been inserted in, and had formed part of this Ordinance.

Corps as if inserted herein.

Fines under such

Rules to be recovera- ble before a Police Ma- gistrate.

Commanding Officer

VI. All Fines inflicted under or by virtue of any Rule when so confirined as afore- said, shall be recoverable and be enforced before and by a Police Magistrate in like manner as Fines imposed by such Magistrate are now recoverable and enforceable res- pectively.

VII. After the Promulgation of such Rules as aforesaid, the Commanding Officer to admit Volunteers. shall admit Volunteers from time to time and enrol them as Members of the Corps.

Every Volunteer to

take Oath or make

VIII. Every Volunteer being a Christian upon being admitted shall subscribe his Declaration in form Name on the Roll of the said Corps, and shall take before a Justice of the Peace an Oath

according to the form following:-

prescribed.

Form of Oath.

Form of Declaration.

I (A.B.) do promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and that I will faithfully serve in the "Volun- teer Force" during the Term of my Enrolment: So help me God.

And every Volunteer not being a Christian shall make a Declaration according to the form following:-

I (A.B.) do solemnly, sincerely and truly declare that I will be faithful and bear true Allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, and that I will faithfully serve in the "Volunteer Force" during the Term of my Enrolment. Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 17th Day of March, 1862. L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.