LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WITNESSES) ORDINANCE, 1886

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL (WITNESSES) ORDINANCE, 1886

No. 12 of 1886.
AnOrdinance for enabling the Legislative Council and any
commIttee thereof to compel the attendance of and to
administer oaths to witnesses.

[14th December, 1886.]

1. This Ordinance may be cite d as the Legislative Council
(Witnesses) Ordinance, 1886.

2. The Legislative Council and any committee thereof may
administer an oath to any witness examined before such Council
or committee, and for that purpose shall have all such and the
like powers, rights, and privileges as are now possessed or

exercisable by the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
or any committee thereof in respect of enforcing the attendance
of witnesses, and punishing persons guilty of contempt.

3.-(i) Any witness to be examined under this Ordinance,
who, being a Christian, conscientiously objects to take an oath
mav make his solemn affirmation and declaration in the words
following.-
' I, A.B., do solemnly, sincerely, and truly, affirm and declare
that the taking of an oath is according to my religious belief unlawful;
and I do solemnly, sincerely, and truly affirm and declare,' etc.
(2) Any witness to be examined under this Ordinance who
is not a Christian may, in lieu of an oath, make the following
declaration, which shall be duly interpreted to every such witness
who is ignorant of the English language:-
' I, A.B., do soleninly, sincerely, and truly declare that the
evidence. which I am about to give shall be the truth, the whole truth,
and nothing but the truth. '

(3) Any solemn affirmation and declaration or declaration
alone as aforesaid shall be of the same force and effect and
shall entail the same consequences as an oath taken in the
usual form.

(4) Any oath or affirmation and declaration or declaration
alone as aforesaid may be administered by the presiding member
of the said Council or any committee thereof.
[Originally No. 26 of 1886. Law Rev. Ord., 1937.] Short title. Powers of Legislative Council as to examination of witnesses. 34 & 35 Vict. C. 83, s. 1. Oath or declaration. 34 & 35 Vict. C. 83, s. 1.

[Originally No. 26 of 1886. Law Rev. Ord., 1937.] Short title. Powers of Legislative Council as to examination of witnesses. 34 & 35 Vict. C. 83, s. 1. Oath or declaration. 34 & 35 Vict. C. 83, s. 1.

https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1423

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