the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890 — Page 316

280 ORDINANCE No. 3 OF 1853 .


Chinese Tepos.


efficient, and to extend their usefulness, it is desirable that the voluntary fees now paid
by Chinese householders for the support of the said tepos be made rateable and com
pulsory : Be it enacted and ordained by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong ,
with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows :
Ordinance to 1. Whenever the majority of rate-payers in any district for which a tepo has been
take effect by
proclamation of
the Governor, on appointed under the said Ordinance No. 13 of 1844, shall, by petition to the Governor,
petition of majo
rity of rate-pay declare their wish to adopt the provisions of this Ordinance, the Governor may by pro
ers .
clamation declare that this Ordinance shall be in force in the said district ; and before
such proclamation this Ordinance shall not apply to any such district .
Rate-payers to 2. After proclamation so made, the rate-payers of the said district shall elect from
elect assessors.
among themselves not less than five nor more than twelve persons , whose names they
shall submit to the Governor for his approval, and after approval such persons shall ,
for one year from the date of such approval, and afterwards until their successors be
chosen, become assessors of the district : And should a less number than twelve be
chosen and approved , the Governor may nominate fit persons to fill the vacancies.
The Governor may also from time to time direct that any vacancy occurring
afterwards among the said assessors be filled in like manner by election and approval,
and in default of election within a time to be fixed by him, may himself nominate
persons to fill the vacancies.
Assessorsto 3. The assessors so approved and nominated shall by a majority of votes choose
choose tepo.
one of their number to be tepo, and such person after approval by the Governor shall
be tepo of the district for one year from the date of such approval, and afterwards until
his successor be chosen . Provided that nothing herein contained shall be held to
circumscribe the power of appointing such tepo, possessed by the Governor under
section 2 of the said Ordinance No. 13 of 1844 .
Mode of election. 4. The election of assessors and tepo shall take place not oftener than once a year,
Qualification of at such time and in such manner as the Governor may determine, and the qualification
electors and as
sessors. for an elector or assessor shall be the previous occupation during one year immediately
preceding the election of a tenement rated to the Police tax, and the payment of all
arrears to the said tax : And all disputes as to qualification or the mode of election
shall be determined by the Chief Magistrate .
Assessors to fix 5. The majority of assessors may from time to time, not being oftener than once
salary of tepo.
in the year, by petition to the Governor declare what salary they consider it necessary
Expense how to that the tepo should receive, and the Governor may thereupon authorize the said asses
be defrayed .
sors to levy on the annual value (as assessed to the Police tax) , of all premises in the
occupation of Chinese tenants, a rate per cent sufficient to defray the amount of such
Application of salary : and from the money so raised the assessors shall pay the salary to the said
surplus funds.
tepo, reserving the remainder, if any, for such other purposes of public utility as the
Governor may sauction . And the Chief Magistrate may enforce the payment of the
said rate by distress and sale of the goods and chattels found on the premises of the
defaulter, in the manner provided by Ordinance No. 2 of 1845, for the enforcement of
the payment of Police rates.