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Societies in Hong Kong.

*

47. The history of societies and trade unions in Hong Kong runs parallel with that in China. As early as 1845 it was found necessary to pass an ordinance to curb the activities of the Triad and other secret societies.† The ordinance was necessarily severe, branding being provided for, and causing much discussion, but in October following, doubtless upon instructions from Home, an amendment was effected by which branding was done away with and the ordinance not made applic- able to any secret society other than the Triad."

48. The direct descendant of that ordinance through the Triad and Unlawful Societies Ordinance 1887 was the Societies Ordinance No. 47 of 1911, which was passed in order to control the political activities of certain associations. Under the Ordinance all societies were compelled to register or obtain exemption from registration.

Section 4 (4) reads:

"The Governor in Council shall not refuse permission to any society to be registered under this Ordinance unless it shall appear that such society is likely to be used for unlawful purposes incompatible with the peace or good order of the Colony or that its action and proceedings are calculated to excite tumult or disorder in China or to excite persons to crime in China."

49. A schedule of exempted societies was appended. This contains besides two Chinese general merchants' associations, namely the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Commercial Union, thirty-four Chinese masters' trade guilds and societies, three of which included workmen as well, and only seven guilds of work- men, the Brass-smith Guild, the Carpenters Guild, an Eating House Employees Guild, the Ginseng Workmen's Guild, a Gardeners Club and two guilds of Waiters.

50. A schedule was published annually till 1919 when there were thirty-six masters' trade guilds or societies exempted, five of which included workmen, and thirty-five guilds of workmen. In addition, twenty-four trade guilds and societies were included in the list of registered societies. Among the exempted guilds there were no less than six brass-smiths guilds, six masons guilds, and three teahouse guilds, showing the lack of organization and unity among the workmen of the various trades.

51. Both exempted and registered societies might at any time be ordered to furnish information to the Registrar of Societies, who was the Registrar-General, as the Secretary for Chinese Affairs was then called, concerning the constitution and rules of the society, its office bearers, and the number of its members. vehicle for obtaining reliable information about, and control over, the societies the Ordinance was a failure and frequently a cause of embarrassment to Government.

As a

52. The Societies Ordinance No. 8 of 1920 reversed the policy. Registration was abandoned and the only societies declared to be unlawful were :

(a) the Triad Society :

(b) all societies which use a Triad ritual:

(c) all societies which have among their objects unlawful purposes

purposes incompatible with the peace and good order of the Colday.

or

It is lawful for the Governor in Council in his absolute discretion to declare to be unlawful any society which in his opinion-

(a) has among its objects unlawful purposes or purposes incompatible with

the peace and good order of the Colony, or

(b) is being used, or is likely to be used, for unlawful purposes or for purposes incompatible with the peace and good order of the Colony, or

(c) is by reason of its actions or proceedings calculated to excite tumult or

disorder in China or to excite persons to crime in China.

+ Norton-Kyshe "History of the Laws and Courts of Hong Kong."

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