hongkong-colonial-ordinances-1847 — Page 215

DIEU DROIT

Annulled.


HONGKONG ,



ANNO DECIMO




VICTORIA REGINÆ.


No. 3 of 1847 .


Y His Excellency Sir JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS, Baronet, Governor
and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its
Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, Her Majesty's Plenipo-
tentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects
in China, with the Advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.

Title.
An Ordinance for the Prevention of Piracy.
[25th March, 1847. ]


WHEREAS it has become necessary to adopt further Steps for Preamble.
the Prevention of Piracies ; and whereas His Excellency the Chinese
Imperial Commissioner has disavowed the Right of Private Vessels
belonging to the People of his Nation to carry Fire-arms, and at the
same time assented to any necessary Measures on the Part of the
Government of Hongkong for putting down Piracy :

I. Be it therefore enacted and ordained, That from and after Authority to search
Chinese Vessels or
the passing of this Ordinance the Captain or Officers of every British Junks.
Ship of War or other Vessel duly authorized by the Government of
this Colony, or every Magistrate or Officer of Police, Harbour-Master
or Officer of the Harbour-Master's Department, are hereby autho-
rized to board and enter every Chinese Vessel or Junk reasonably
suspected of being a Piratical Vessel, and search the same.

II. And be it further enacted and ordained, That the Possession, Chinese Vessels hav-
by any Chinese Vessel whatever, (not being a Government Vessel) ing on board Fire-pots
or Stink-pots, to be
of the offensive Weapons called Fire-pots or Stink-pots, shall be held sels.
deemed Piratical Ves-
and deemed to be Proof of a Piratical Vessel.


III. And be it further enacted and ordained , That the Possession Chinese Vessels car-
by any Chinese Vessel whatever (not being a Government Vessel) of tying offensive
or Weapons Arms
liable to
any Offensive Arms or Weapons, shall be held and deemed to be forfeiture.
Proof of a Piratical Vessel, and such Vessel with its Contents shall
be