The Sun. — 1844-05-04 (London, England)

RICHARD WOOSNAM. Government-house, Victoria, Hong-Kong, Jan. 25, 1844. "An ordinance for her Majesty's subjects, within the dominions of the Emperor of China, or within any ship or vessel, at a distance of not more than 100 miles from the coast of China. " Anno Sexto et Septimo Victorise Regime. "No. 1. " By his Excellency Sir Henry Pottinger, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath, Major-General in the service of the East India Company, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the colony of Hong-Kong, and its dependencies, and Superintendent of the Trade of her Majesty's subjects, trading to and from the dominions of the Emperor of China. With the advice of the Legislative Council of Hong-Kong. "An ordinance to render her Majesty's subjects within the dominions of the Emperor of China, or within any ship or s distance of not more than one hundred miles from the coast of China, subject in ail matters to the law of England, and to extend the jurisdiction of the courts of justice at Hong-Kong over the same. " Whereas under and by virtue of an Act of Pailiament, made and passed in the seventh year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria, entitled, ' An Act for the better government of her Majesty's subjects resorting to China,' her Maj!sty did, by letter patent under the Great Seal of the United kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, authorise the Super intendent of the Trade of her Majesty's subjects in China (so long as such superintendent should be also governor of the Island of Hong-Kong) to enact, with the advice of the Legislative Council of the said island of Hong-Kong, all such laws and ordinances as might, from time to time, be required for the good government of her Majesty's subjects, being within the dominions of the Emperor of China, or within any ship or vessel, at a distance of not more than one hundred miles from the coast of China, and to enforce the execution of such laws and ordinances by such penalties and forfeitures, as to him, by the advice aforesaid, should seem fit "1. Be it therefore enacted, by his Excellency the Governor of llong-Kong and Superintendent of the Trade of her Majesty's subjects in China, with the advice of the Legislative Council of Hong-Kong aforesaid, that from and after the passing of this ordinance the law of England shall have the same force, virtue, power, and effect over her Majesty's suljects within the dominions of the Emperor of China, or within any ship or vessel at a distance of not more than one hundred miles from the coast of China, in all matters whatsoever, whether civil or criminal, that it has over her Majesty's said subjects actually within her Majesty's colony of Hong-Kong. " 2. And be it enacted, that the courts of justice at HongKong, which are now, or shall be hereafter erected, shall have the same power, jurisdiction, and authority in all matters whatsoever, whether civil or criminal, over her Majesty's subjects within the dominions of the Emperor of China, or within any ship or vessel, at a distance of not more than one hundred miles from the coast of China, that the courts aforesaid have or shall have over her Majesty's subjects actually resident within her Majestys colony of Hong-Kong. " 3.. And be it enacted, in case of any murder, felony, robbery, theft, trespass,, or crime whatsoyer being charged to have been done upon the person ,or property of any one whatsoever, within the dominions of the Emperor of China, or within any ship or vessel, at a distance of not more than one hundred miles from the coast of China, by any of her Majesty's subjects, that it shall not be lawful for the person, charged therewith, to object to the locality of the jurisdiction of the said courts at Hong-Kong, but he shall be indicted, tried, convicted, and punished. or acquitted, or demeaned in all respects as if the offence wherewith he may be charged had been committed within the colony of Hong-Kong, upon the body er property of a person within the peace of our Sovereign Lady the Queen. " And for the prevention of doubts upon the subject, be it enacted that the Peninsula of Macao shall, for the purposes of this ordinance, and of all other ordinances made by virtue of the power herein before-mentioned be deemed, and taken to he, within the dominions of the Emperor of China. " HENRY POTTINGER, Superintendent of Trade and Governor of Hong-Kong, &c. "Passed the Legislative Council on the 27th day of January, 1844. " RICHARD BURGASS, Clerk of the Legislative Council."