727695-1854-GOVERNMENT-NOTIFICATION — Page 2

CIRCULAR.

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145

(

Corps of Wchmiteers)

Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria,

Hongkong, 30th May, 1854.

The exigencies of the public service having compelled His Excellency The Rear-Admiral to withdraw for a time the protection afforded by a Naval Force, The Honorable the Lieutenant-Go- vernor has had under his anxious consideration the defenceless state of the Colony and the calamities that might ensue were it attacked in its present condition by the Naval power of an enemy or by one of the formidable piratical Fleets known to be in the neighbourhood.

The peculiar composition of the Chinese population of the place renders probable also another danger of no minor importance, that of a combination of the vagrant Inhabitants for purposes of plunder whenever they may find the troops and the police engaged by the absorbing occupation of preparation for an enemy.

Under these circumstances The Lieutenant-Governor calls upon the faithful inhabitants of this Colony to lend him their aid in this emergency by forming themselves into a Corps of Volunteers for the defence of the lives and property of themselves and their families, on the occurrence of any of the abovementioned contingencies.

The Honorable Colonel Griffin, Commanding the Forces, has kindly promised to make the requisite arrangements for the equipment and drilling of the Corps.

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By Order,

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Title.

Preamble.

A rate of Three

(Signed,)

C. B. HILLIER, Officiating Colonial Secretary.

HONGKONG.

ANNO DECIMO SEPTIMO VICTORIE REGINE.

No. 1 of 1854.

BY The Honorable Lieutenant-Colonel William Caine, Lieutenant-Governor Administering the Government of the Colony of Hongkong, and its Dependencies, with the advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

AN ORDINANCE TO RAISE AN ADDITIONAL POLICE RATE.

[30th May, 1854.]

WHEREAS it is necessary that for a temporary period an Auxiliary Police Force should be kept on foot and maintained in this Colony for the preservation of the Lives and Property of the Inhabitants thereof :-

1. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by the Honorable the Lieutenant-Gov- per cent to be levi- ernor Administering the Government of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legis- ed forthwith for the lative Council thereof, That to defray the expenses of raising and maintaining an maintenance of an Auxiliary Police Force in this Colony in addition to the ordinary Police Rate Auxiliary Police. assessed for the current year a rate be forthwith levied of Three per cent on the gross amount of the property included in the Police Rate Assessment, and that the Amount so levied be applied by the Officer Administering the Government of the Colony for the time being in and about the maintenance of the Auxiliary Police Force at his discretion.

An additional II. That if at the expiration of Three months from the passing of this Ordinance rate of Three per the Officer Administering the Government of this Colony for the time being shall cent may be levied deem it necessary for the express purposes of this Ordinance and for no other that if needed at the

a like sum of Three per cent should be levied, it shall be lawful for such Officer expiration of three months from the to cause such further sum to be levied. passing of this Or- dinance.

III. That should it so happen that it be found unnecessary to expend all the sums of money raised under this Ordinance for the purposes of the Auxiliary Police Surplus to be applied to dimi. Force and there remain a Balance unapplied of such monies such Balance shall be nish future Police expended solely in diminishing Police Rates hereafter to be raised in this Colony

and in no other manner whatsoever.

Rates.

Rate to be levied IV. That the Police Rate hereby ordered to be levied shall be forthwith levied in conformity with and enforced in the manner provided by the Ordinance No. 2 of 1845 for the Ordinance No. 2 levying and enforcement of the Annual Assessed Police Rate.

of 1845.

Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

this 30th Day of May, 1854. -

L. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,

Clerk of Councils.

W. CAINE.