the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890 — Page 173

ORDINANCES Nos . 8 AND 9 OF 1845 . 137


Criminal Proceedings. Supreme Court- Summary Jurisdiction.


the Court ; nor because of any error committed in summoning or swearing the jury, or
any of them ; nor because any person who has served upon the jury has not been
returned by the sheriff ; nor because of any objection which might have been stated as
a ground of challenge of any of the jurors, except the objection of minority ; nor for
any informality in swearing the witnesses, or any of them.

7. And be it further enacted and ordained , that in the construction of this Interpretation
clause.
Ordinance, wherever, in describing any person or party, matter or thing, the word
importing the singular number or the masculine gender only is used, the same shall be
understood to include, and shall be applied to, several persons or parties as well as one
person or party, and females as well as males, and several matters or things as well as
one matter or thing respectively, unless there be something in the subject or context
repugnant to such construction.



[Repealed by Ordinance No. 3 of 1865. ]




No. 9 of 1845 .

An Ordinance to invest the Supreme Court of Hongkong with a summary Title.
Jurisdiction in certain Cases .

[ 19th August, 1845. ]

THEREAS it is expedient that debts and damages of a small and trifling amount Preamble.
WH should be recoverable in the Supreme Court of Hongkong in a summary and
expeditious manner :

1. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Summary
jurisdiction of
advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that the said Supreme Court shall have full Court.
[See Ordinance
No. 5 of 1854.J
power and authority to hear and determine in a summary way, and without the inter
vention of a jury, all disputes and differences between party and party touching any
matter of debt, breach of covenant or promise, injury to the person or property, or
other matter, where the debt or damages sought to be recovered shall not exceed the
sum of one hundred dollars, [Amended by Section 2 of Ordinance No. 3 of 1849. ] except
the matter in question shall relate to the title of any lands, tenements, or hereditaments,
or to the taking of any duty payable to Her Majesty, or to any fee of office or other
matter where rights in future might be bound, or to any general right or duty : Provided
that no party shall be precluded or exempted from suing or being sued under the aforesaid
summary jurisdiction by reason of his or her not having attained the full age of twenty
one years, or by reason of coverture where the husband shall not be resident within the
said Colony of Hongkong. [ Amended further by Ordinance No. 5 of 1854. ]