the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890 — Page 257

ORDINANCE No. 3 OF 1847 . 221


Piracy.


No. 3 of 1847.

An Ordinance for the Prevention of Piracy. Title.

[ 25th March, 1847. ]

HEREAS it has become necessary to adopt further steps for the prevention of Preamble.
WHEpiracies ; 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 :

1. Be it therefore enacted and ordained, that from and after the passing of this Authority to
search Chinese
Ordinance, the captain or officers of every British ship of war or other vessel duly vessels or junks.
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 authorized
to board and enter every Chinese vessel or junk reasonably suspected of being a pirat
ical vessel, and search the same.

2. And be it further enacted and ordained, that the possession by any Chinese Chinese vessels
having on board
vessel whatever (not being a Government vessel) of the offensive weapons called fire fire-pots or stink
pots, to be deem
pots or stink- pots, shall be held and deemed to be proof of a piratical vessel. ed piratical
vessels.
3. And be it further enacted and ordained, that the possession by any Chinese Chinese vessels
carrying offen
vessel whatever (not being a Government vessel) of any offensive arms or weapons, sive arms or
weapons liable
to forfeiture.
shall be held and deemed to be proof of a piratical vessel, and such vessel with its
contents shall be forfeited ; unless it shall appear that such Chinese vessel was duly Proviso.
licensed to carry such arms or weapons as hereinafter mentioned.
4. And be it further enacted and ordained, that all trading junks, lorchas, large Trading junks,
lorchas, large
fast-boats and other vessels belonging to Hongkong, being duly registered and licensed fast-boats, &c.,
duly registered,
to carry a flag.
by the Registrar General, under and by virtue of the provisions of Ordinance No. 7 of
1846, intituled " An Ordinance to repeal Ordinance No. 18 of 1844, and to establish a more
effectual Registry of the Chinese Inhabitants, and a Census of the Population of the
Island of Hongkong," shall and may carry the same flag as other British merchant vessels,
with the numbers of their register inscribed in large white figures in the centre of
the said flag, so as to be distinguishable at a distance ; and the Registrar General is Registrar Gene
ral authorized
hereby authorized to grant such flag as aforesaid ; and every trading junk, lorcha, to grant such
flag.
large fast-boat, or other vessel belonging as aforesaid, which shall use the said flag
without being duly registered and licensed as aforesaid, shall be forfeited, and the owner Trading junks,
lorchas, large
or master of such trading junk, lorcha, or large fast-boat, or other vessel , shall in fast-boats, &c.,
not duly regis
addition pay a fine not exceeding fifty dollars. tered, carrying
the flag, to be
forfeited.
5. And be it further enacted and ordained, that all trading junks, lorchas, large Penalty on the
master for using
fast-boats, and other vessels belonging to Hongkong not duly registered and licensed the flag without
licence.
to carry arms, and all trading junks, lorchas, large fast- boats, and other vessels duly Trading junks,
lorchas, large
registered and licensed as before mentioned , having on board other arms or a larger fast-boats, &c
having other
arms on board
quantity of arms than are specified in their register, shall be held and deemed to be than those spe