hongkong-colonial-ordinances-1847 — Page 72

DIEU E
DROIT




HONGKONG ,


ANNO OCTAVO



VICTORIÆ REGINÆ.


No. 1 of 1845 .


Y His Excellency JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS, Esquire, Governor
and Commander- in - Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its
Dependencies, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superinten-
dent of the Trade of British Subjects in China, with the Advice of
the Legislative Council of Hongkong.


An Ordinance for the Suppression of the Triad and other Secret Title.
Societies within the Island of Hongkong and its Dependencies.
[ 8th January, 1845. ]

Preamble.
WHEREAS the Triad Society and other Secret Societies preva-
lent in China exist among the Inhabitants of the Island of Hongkong ;
and whereas these Associations have Objects in view which are
incompatible with the Maintenance of Good Order and constituted
Authority, and with the Security of Life and Property, and afford, by
means of a Secret Agency, increased Facilities for the Commission of
Crime and for the Escape of Offenders :

Be it therefore enacted and ordained by the Governor of
Members of the
Triad Society to be
Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, That considered guilty of
from and after the passing of this Ordinance, if any Person or Persons, Felony.
being of Chinese Origin, in the said Island or its Dependencies, shall
be a Member or Members of the Triad Society or other Secret Societies
as aforesaid, he, she, or they shall, in consequence thereof, be guilty
of Felony, and being duly convicted thereof, shall be liable to be
Imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Three Years, with or without
Hard Labour, and at the Expiration of such Term of Imprisonment,
that such Person shall be marked on the Right Cheek in the manner
usual in the case of Military Deserters, and be expelled from the
said Island.
JOHN FRANCIS DAVIS,
Governor, &c. &c.


Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong,
this 8th day of January, 1845 .
ADOLPHUS E. SHELLEY,
Clerk of Councils.
A