WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ORDINANCE, 1913
Title
WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ORDINANCE, 1913
Description
No. 20 of 1913.
An Ordinance to provide, for the regulation of wireless
telegraphy.
[25th July, 1913.]
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Wireless Telegraphy,
Ordinance, 19-13.
2. In this Ordinance,
(a) Telegraph means an electric., galvanic or magnetic
telegraph and includes appliances and apparatus for trans-
mitting or making telegraphic, telephonic or other communica-
tions by means of electricity, galvanisin- or iriagnetism.
(b) Wireless telegraphy means any system of com-
inualcaltion by telegraph without the aid of any wire connectine,
the points from and at which the messages or other
communications are sent and received: Provided that nothing
in this Ordinance shall prevent any person from making or
using an electrical apparatus for actuating machinery or for
any purpose other than the transmission of messages.
3. The Governor may whenever he shall deem it expedient
to do so license the establishment of any wireless telegraph
station or the installation or working of any apparatus for
wireless telegraphy in any place in the Colony or on board
any British ship registered ill the Colony.
4.-(1) No person shall establish any wireless telegraph
station or instal or work any apparatus for wireless telegraphy
ill any place ill the Colony or on board any British ship
registered in the Colony except under and in accordance
with a licence granted in that behalf by the Governor.
(2) Every such licence shall be in such form and for such
period as the Governor in Council may determine and shall
contain such terms, conditions and restrictions on and subject
to which the licence is granted as the Governor shall consider
desirable in the public interest.
As amended by Law Rev. Ord, 1924.
5..-(1) Every person who establishes a wireless telegraph
station without a licence in that behalf or instals or works
any apparatus for wireless telegraphy without a licence in
that behalf shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand
dollars or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding twelve
months and in either case be liable to forfeit any apparatus
for wireless telegraphy installed or worked without a licence
but no proceedings shall be taken against any person under
this Ordinance except with the previous sanction of the
Attorney General.
(21) If a magistrate is satisfied by inforination on oath that
there is reasonable ground for believing that a wireless
telegraph station has been established without a licence in
that behalf or that any apparatus for wireless telegraphy has
been installed or worked in any place or on board any ship
within the jurisdiction without a licence in that behalf he
may grant a search warrant to any police officer to enter and
inspect the station, place or ship and to seize any apparatus
which appears to him to be used or intended to be used for
wireless telegraphy therein.
6.-(1) It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council to
make regulations for any of the following purposes.-
(a) prescribing the form and manner in which applications
for licences under this Ordinance are to be made;
(b) prescribing the fees payable on the grant of any
licence;
(c) regulating the manner in which apparatus for wireless
telegraphy on board a merchant ship whether British or
foreign in the waters of the Colony shall be worked so as to
prevent interference with naval signalling or the working of
any wireless telegraph station lawfully established, installed
or worked in the Colony or the waters thereof and so as not
to interrupt or interfere with the transmission of any wireless
messages between wireless telegraph stations established as
aforesaid on land and wireless telegraph stations established
on ships at sea;
* As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1924.
(d) prohibiting except with the special or general permis-
sion of the Colonial Secretary the working or using of any
apparatus forwireless telegraphy ou board a merchant ship
whether British or foreign whilst such ship is in any of the
harbours of the Colony ; and
(e) prohibiting or regulating, in case at any time in the
opinion of the Governor an emergency has arisen in which
it is expedient for the public service that His Majesty's
Governmeut should have control over the transmission of
messages by wireless telegraphy on board merchant ships
whether British or foreign in the waters of the Colony, the
use of wireless telegraphy on board such ships while in such
waters.
(2) Provided that no regulations made in respect of the
matters described in subsection (1) (c), (d) and (e) shall
apply to the use of wireless telegraphy for the purpose of
making or answering signals of distress.
7. When an applicant for a licence proves to the satis-
faction of the Governor that the sole object of obtaining the
licence is to enable him to conduct experiments in wireless
telegraphy, a licence for that purpose shall be granted subject
to such special terms, conditions and restrictions as the
Governor may think proper but shall not be subject to any.
rent or royalty.
8.-(1) Every omission or neglect to comply with and
every act done or attempted to be done contrary to the
provisions of this Ordinance or of any regulation made there-
under or in breach of the conditions and restrictions subject
to or upon which any licence has been issued shall be
deemed to be an offence against this Ordinance, and for every
such offence not otherwise specially provided for the offender
shall in addition to the forfeiture of any articles seized be
liable to a fine of five hundred dollars.
(2) All convictions, forfeitures and fines under this Ordi-
nance or any regulations made thereunder may be had and
recovered before a magistrate.
[s. 9, rep. Law Revision Ordinance, 1924.]
[Originally No.20 of 1913. Law Rev. Ord., 1924.] Short title. Interpretation. 4 Edw 7, c. 24, s.1(7). Licences for wireless telegraphy may be granted by the Governor. Licences for wireless telegraphy . 4 Edw. 7, c.24,s, 1 (1) (2) Penalty for establishing a station or working apparatus without a licence. 4 Edw.7, c. 24,s.1 (3),(4). Regulations. 4 Edw. 7, c.24,s.1 (6). Licences for experimental purposes. 4 Edw. 7, c.24, s.2 (1). Penalties.
Abstract
[Originally No.20 of 1913. Law Rev. Ord., 1924.] Short title. Interpretation. 4 Edw 7, c. 24, s.1(7). Licences for wireless telegraphy may be granted by the Governor. Licences for wireless telegraphy . 4 Edw. 7, c.24,s, 1 (1) (2) Penalty for establishing a station or working apparatus without a licence. 4 Edw.7, c. 24,s.1 (3),(4). Regulations. 4 Edw. 7, c.24,s.1 (6). Licences for experimental purposes. 4 Edw. 7, c.24, s.2 (1). Penalties.
Identifier
https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1277
Edition
1923
Volume
v5
Subsequent Cap No.
106
Cap / Ordinance No.
No. 20 of 1913
Number of Pages
3
Files
Collection
Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online
Citation
“WIRELESS TELEGRAPHY ORDINANCE, 1913,” Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online, accessed January 22, 2025, https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1277.