727098-1853-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 2

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GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

The following Return of Notes in Circulation and Specie in Reserve, at the Bank of the Oriental Bank Corporation in Hongkong, is published for general information.

By Order,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong,

12th October, 1853.

W. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.

Account of the Average Amount of Notes in Circulation at the Bank of the Oriental Bank Corporation in Hongkong, for the Month ending 30th September, 1853, rendered in accordance with the terms of Her Majesty's Royal Charter of Incorporation.

Notes issued,.......

.$50,145*

Exclusive of the Notes of the Oriental Bank still outstanding.

(Signed,)

P. CAMPBELL, ☞ Manager.

Oriental Bank Corporation, Hongkong,

1st October, 1853.

this day inspected the Books and Treasure Vault of the Oriental Bank Corporation, and certify that the Amount shewn was in accordance with the terms of the Charter.

6th October, 1953.

(Signed,)

W. T. MERCER, Colonial Treasurer.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.

His Excellency The Governor in Council is pleased to direct, that the following Draft of a proposed Ordinance, Read at a Meeting of the Legislative Council for the first time on this day, be published for general information.

By Order,

Council Office, Victoria, Hongkong,

13th October, 1853.

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO, Clerk of Councils.

Title.

Preamble.

Ordinance to take

HONGKONG.

ANNO DECIMO SEPTIMO VICTORIÆ REGINÆ.

No. of 1853.

BY His Excellency Sir SAMUEL GEORGE BONHAM, Baronet, Knight Commander of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects in China, with the Advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

AN ORDINANCE TO EXTEND THE DUTIES OF CHINESE TEPOS APPOINTED UNDER ORDINANCE No. 13 or 1844; TO DETERMINE THEIR EMOLUMENTS; AND TO PROVIDE FOR THE AMICABLE SETTLEMENT OF CIVIL SUits among the CHINESE POPULATION OF HONGKONG.

地法 [

1853.]

WHEREAS disputes occasionally arise among the Chinese Population of this Colony which might be more conveniently and amicably settled by the Tepo, aided by the respectable Chinese Inhabitants, than before an English Tribunal; and whereas with a view to make the Tepos of the several Districts of the Colony more efficient, and to extend their usefulness, it is desirable that the voluntary Fees now paid by Chi- nese Householders for the support of the said Tepos be made rateable and compul- sory-Be it enacted and ordained by His Excellency The Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

I. Whenever the majority of Rate-payers in any District for which a Tepo has feet by proclama- been appointed under the said Ordinance No. 13 of 1844, shall, by petition to the tion of the Gover- Governor, declare their wish to adopt the provisions of this Ordinance, the Governor nor, on petition of majority of Rate may by proclamation declare that this Ordinance shall be in force in the said District;

and before such proclamation this Ordinance shall not apply to any such District.

payers.

Rate-payers to alect Assessors.

II. After Proclamation so made, the Rate-payers of the said District shall elect from among themselves not less than Ten nor more than Twenty-four Persons, whose Names they shall submit to the Governor for his approval, and after approval such Persons shall, for One Year from the date of such approval, and afterwards until their Successors be chosen, become Assessors of the District: And should a less number than Twenty-four be chosen and approved, the Governor may nominate fit Persons to fill the vacancies. The Governor may also from time to time direct that any vacancy among the said Assessors occurring during their current year of Office be filled in like manner by election and approval, and in default of election within a time to be fixed by him, by nomination as above provided.