### Chinese Temples Ordinance 《華人廟宇條例》

4. All Chinese temples to be in complete and separate buildings used for no other purpose
(1) Subject to the provisions of subsections (2) and (3), no Chinese temple shall be established or maintained unless it is in a building which is a complete and separate building and which is erected and is used for the purpose of such temple and for no other purpose. 
(2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (1), it shall be lawful for the Chinese Temples Committee referred to in section 7 to exempt any Chinese temple from the provisions of subsection (1). Any such exemption may be withdrawn at any time by the Chinese Temples Committee upon such notice as to the said committee may seem proper. 
(3) Notice of a refusal to exempt any Chinese temple under subsection (2) or to withdraw any exemption under that subsection shall be accompanied by an adequate statement of the reasons for that refusal or for that withdrawal. (Replaced 6 of 1994 s. 45) 
(4) Any person aggrieved by a decision of the Chinese Temples Committee to refuse to exempt any Chinese temple under subsection (2) or to withdraw any exemption under that subsection may, within 28 days after receiving notice of such refusal or withdrawal, as the case may be, appeal to the Administrative Appeals Board. (Added 6 of 1994 s. 45) 
(5) A decision to withdraw any exemption that is appealed against under subsection (4) shall be suspended in its operation as from the day on which the appeal is made until such appeal is disposed of, withdrawn or abandoned unless such suspension would, in the opinion of the Chinese Temples Committee, be contrary to the public interest and the notice of the decision contains a statement to that effect. (Added 6 of 1994 s. 45) 
(Amended 33 of 1939 Supp. Schedule; G.N. 840 of 1940)

### Chinese Temples Ordinance 《華人廟宇條例》

5. All Chinese temples to be registered
(1) No Chinese temple shall be established or maintained unless it is registered in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance. (Amended 33 of 1939 Supp. Schedule; G.N. 840 of 1940) 
(2) Registration shall be effected at the office of the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs and the following particulars shall be supplied in order to effect registration— (Amended L.N. 262 of 1989; L.N. 144 of 2022) 
(a) the name of the temple or intended temple; 
(b) the address of the temple or intended temple, including the street or road and lot number; 
(c) the gods worshipped or intended to be worshipped; 
(d) the nature or intended nature of the control of the temple, that is to say, whether by a committee or by a family or by an individual, and the title of the committee or the name of the family or individual; 
(e) the name and address of the sz chuk (司祝, temple keeper), if any; 
(f) particulars of the funds, investments and properties held at the time of registration and where, how and by whom those funds, investments or properties are held; 
(g) the application or intended application of the revenue of the temple, including the revenue from funds, investments or property held or to be held. (Amended 33 of 1939 Supp. Schedule; G.N. 840 of 1940; L.N. 22 of 1969; L.N. 67 of 1985)

6. No person to take part in the establishment of any unlawful Chinese temple, etc.
No person shall—
(a) take any part in the establishment or maintenance of any Chinese temple established or maintained contrary to any of the provisions of this Ordinance or of any regulation made thereunder; or 
(b) take any part in the management or in the service of any such Chinese temple; or 
(c) derive any profit from the revenue of any such Chinese temple; or 
(d) knowingly supply any false or inaccurate information for the purposes of this Ordinance.

### Chinese Temples Ordinance 《華人廟宇條例》

8. Application of revenues of Chinese temples
(1) The revenues of all Chinese temples shall be applied in the first instance to the due observance of the customary ceremonies and the maintenance of the temple buildings and temple properties, and any surplus may be transferred to the General Chinese Charities Fund referred to in section 9. 
(2) It shall be in the discretion of the Chinese Temples Committee to decide what are the customary ceremonies of any particular Chinese temple and what amount may be spent on any particular authorized object and what surplus may be transferred to the General Chinese Charities Fund.

9. General Chinese Charities Fund
(1) The General Chinese Charities Fund referred to in section 8 shall be held in such manner as the Chinese Temples Committee may direct, and may in the discretion of the Chinese Temples Committee be applied—
(a) to the pay of the necessary staff and the other expenses incurred by the Chinese Temples Committee in the exercise of its powers under this Ordinance; and (Amended 33 of 1939 Supp. Schedule; G.N. 840 of 1940) 
(b) for the purposes of any Chinese charity in Hong Kong. (Amended 33 of 1999 s. 3)
(2) The Chinese Temples Committee may, subject to the approval of the Chief Executive in Council, direct the manner in which the accounts of the General Chinese Charities Fund shall be kept and audited. (Replaced 26 of 1961 s. 3. Amended 33 of 1999 s. 3)

### Chinese Temples Ordinance 《華人廟宇條例》

10. Temple keeper
(1) It shall be lawful for the Chinese Temples Committee to let by tender the office of sz chuk (司祝, temple keeper) of any temple. 
(2) It shall be within the discretion of the Chinese Temples Committee to determine the conditions of any tender, the manner in which tenders shall be called for and the powers and obligations of any sz chuk. 
(3) Any lump sum paid or any periodical payment made by any person in respect of any tender by him for the office of sz chuk of any temple shall be deemed to be part of the revenue of that temple. 
(4) It shall also be lawful for the Chinese Temples Committee, without tender, to appoint any person to the office of sz chuk of any temple. 
(5) It shall be lawful for the Chinese Temples Committee to give to the sz chuk of any Chinese temple, whether appointed by the Chinese Temples Committee or not, 1 month’s notice in writing terminating the tenure of his office, and upon the expiration of the notice he shall be deemed to have vacated such office and thereafter shall not act as sz chuk of that temple unless re-appointed by the Chinese Temples Committee. 
(Amended 33 of 1939 Supp. Schedule; G.N. 840 of 1940)

11. Power to delegate
It shall be lawful for the Chinese Temples Committee to delegate to any person the administration of any temple and of the revenues of such temple and to revoke any such delegation. 
(Amended 33 of 1939 Supp. Schedule; G.N. 840 of 1940)