PROMISSORY OATHS ORDINANCE, 1869
Title
PROMISSORY OATHS ORDINANCE, 1869
Description
ORDINANCE No. 1 OF 1869.
Promissory Oaths Ordinance, 1869.
AN ORDINANCE to amend the Law relating to Promissory Oaths.
[24th September, 1869.]
BE it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the
Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Promissory Oaths Ordinance,
1869.
2. The oath in this Ordinance referred to as the oath of allegiance shall
be in the form following; that is to say,-
I, , do swear that I will be faithful and bear
true allegience to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her Heirs and
Successors, according to law. So help me God.
3. The oath in this Ordinance referred to as the official oath shall be
in the form following; that is to say,-
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve
Her Majesty Queen Victoria in the office of
So help me God.
4. The oath in this Ordinance referred to as the judicial oath shall be
in the form following; that is to say,-
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve
Our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria office of
, and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and
usages of this Colony, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
So help me God.
5. the oath of allegiance and the official oath shall be taken by each
of the officers named in Part I of the schedule to this Ordinance as
soon as may be after his acceptance of office, and such oaths shall be
tendered by the officer and in the manner in that behalf mentioned in
the said Part I of the said Schedule.
6. The oath of allegiance and the judicial oath shall be taken by each
of the officers named in Part II of the Schedule to this Ordinance
as soon as may be after his acceptance of office, and such oaths shall be
tendered by the officer and in the manner in that behalf mentioned in
the siad Part II of the said Schedule.
7.-(1) A member of the Executive Council shall take the oath of
allegiance and an oath of fidelity in the discharge of his duities in the
form following; thaa is to say,-
I, , being chosen and admitted of Her Ma-
jesty's Executive Council in this Colony, do swear that I will, to
the best of my judgment, at all times when thereto required, freely
give my counsel and advice to the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor,
or Officer Administering the Government of this Colony for the
time being, for the good management of the public affairs of this
Colony; that I will not directly or indirectly reveal such matters as
shall be debated in Council and commited to my secrecy; but that
I will in all things be a true and faithful councillor. So help me
God.
(2) The said oaths shall be tendered by the Governor.
8. A member of theLegislative Council shall take the oath of alle-
giance only, and the same shall be tendered by the Governor.
9.-(1) the Clerk of the Councils shall take the oath of allegiance
and an oath of secrecy in the form following; that is to say,
I, , having been appointed Clerk of the
Councils in this Colony, do swear that I will not directly or indirectly
reveal such matters as shall be debated in the Executive Council
and committed to my secrecy. So help me God.
(2) The said oaths shall be tendered by the Colonial Secretary.
10. An alien on naturalization shall take the oath of allegiance only,
and the same shall be tendered by the Clerk of the Councils in the
presence of the Colonial Secretary.
11. if any person declines or neglects, when any oath or affirmation
required to be taken or made by him under this Ordinance is duly
tendered, to take such oath or make such affirmation, he shall, if he has
already entered on his office, vacate the same, and, if he has not entered
on his office, be disqualified from entering on the same; but no person
shall be compelled in respect of the same appointment to the same office
to take such oath or make such affirmation more times than one.
12. If any alien who ahs applied for a certificate of naturalization
declines or neglects to take the oath or make the affirmation required to
be taken or made by him under this Ordinance, when duly tendered, he
shall be disqualified from obtaining the said certificate and, if the same
has been already granted, it shall become ipso facto void.
13. Where, previously to the commencement of this Ordinance, the
taking of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, nd abjuration, or any two
or one of such oaths, or any oath substituted therefor, formed a condition
preecedent or subsequent to the attainment by any person of any office
privilege, civil rights, exemption, or other benefit, there shall be sub-
stituted for such oaths or any two or one of them, or for such substitiuted
oath, the oath of allegiance prescribed by this Ordinance.
14. Wherein any oath under this Ordinance the name of Her present
Majesty is expressed, the name of the Sovereign for the time being shall
be substituted from time to time.
15. When an oath is required to be taken under this Ordinance, every
person for the time being by law permitted to make a solemn affirmation
or declaration instead of taking an oath may, instead of taking such
oath, make a solemn affirmation in the form of oath hereby appointed,
subsitituting the words 'solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affire'
for the word 'swear' and omitting the words 'So help me God.'
SCHEDULE.
PART I.
The Colonial Secretary,
The Attorney General,
The Colonial Treasureer,
The Auditor General,
PART II.
The Chief Justice,
The Puisne Judge,
The registrar General,
The Police Magistrates,
The Justices of the Peace,
The Marine Magistrate,
The Registrar of the Supreme
Court and the Deputy Registrars,
A.D. 1869. Ordinance No. 4 of 1869. with Ordinance No. 2 of 1887 incorporated Short title. Form of oath of allegiance. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 2. Form of official oath. Ib.s.3. Form of judicial oath. Ib.s.4. Persons to take oath of allegiance, and official oath. Schedule: Part I. Ib.s.5. Persons to take oath of allegiance and judicial oath. Schedule: Part II. Ib.s.6. Oaths of Executive Councillor. Oath of Legislative Councillor. Oaths of Clerk of Councils. Oath of alien on naturalization. Consequence of officer, etc., not taking required oath. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 7. Consequence of alien not taking required oath. Oath of allegiance in the Ordinance substituted for oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and adjuration. Ib.s.8. Substitution of name of Sovereign for time being in oath. Ib.s.10. Provision in favour of persons permitted to make affirmations. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 11. Section 5. Section 6.
Promissory Oaths Ordinance, 1869.
AN ORDINANCE to amend the Law relating to Promissory Oaths.
[24th September, 1869.]
BE it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the
Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Promissory Oaths Ordinance,
1869.
2. The oath in this Ordinance referred to as the oath of allegiance shall
be in the form following; that is to say,-
I, , do swear that I will be faithful and bear
true allegience to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Her Heirs and
Successors, according to law. So help me God.
3. The oath in this Ordinance referred to as the official oath shall be
in the form following; that is to say,-
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve
Her Majesty Queen Victoria in the office of
So help me God.
4. The oath in this Ordinance referred to as the judicial oath shall be
in the form following; that is to say,-
I, , do swear that I will well and truly serve
Our Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria office of
, and I will do right to all manner of people after the laws and
usages of this Colony, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
So help me God.
5. the oath of allegiance and the official oath shall be taken by each
of the officers named in Part I of the schedule to this Ordinance as
soon as may be after his acceptance of office, and such oaths shall be
tendered by the officer and in the manner in that behalf mentioned in
the said Part I of the said Schedule.
6. The oath of allegiance and the judicial oath shall be taken by each
of the officers named in Part II of the Schedule to this Ordinance
as soon as may be after his acceptance of office, and such oaths shall be
tendered by the officer and in the manner in that behalf mentioned in
the siad Part II of the said Schedule.
7.-(1) A member of the Executive Council shall take the oath of
allegiance and an oath of fidelity in the discharge of his duities in the
form following; thaa is to say,-
I, , being chosen and admitted of Her Ma-
jesty's Executive Council in this Colony, do swear that I will, to
the best of my judgment, at all times when thereto required, freely
give my counsel and advice to the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor,
or Officer Administering the Government of this Colony for the
time being, for the good management of the public affairs of this
Colony; that I will not directly or indirectly reveal such matters as
shall be debated in Council and commited to my secrecy; but that
I will in all things be a true and faithful councillor. So help me
God.
(2) The said oaths shall be tendered by the Governor.
8. A member of theLegislative Council shall take the oath of alle-
giance only, and the same shall be tendered by the Governor.
9.-(1) the Clerk of the Councils shall take the oath of allegiance
and an oath of secrecy in the form following; that is to say,
I, , having been appointed Clerk of the
Councils in this Colony, do swear that I will not directly or indirectly
reveal such matters as shall be debated in the Executive Council
and committed to my secrecy. So help me God.
(2) The said oaths shall be tendered by the Colonial Secretary.
10. An alien on naturalization shall take the oath of allegiance only,
and the same shall be tendered by the Clerk of the Councils in the
presence of the Colonial Secretary.
11. if any person declines or neglects, when any oath or affirmation
required to be taken or made by him under this Ordinance is duly
tendered, to take such oath or make such affirmation, he shall, if he has
already entered on his office, vacate the same, and, if he has not entered
on his office, be disqualified from entering on the same; but no person
shall be compelled in respect of the same appointment to the same office
to take such oath or make such affirmation more times than one.
12. If any alien who ahs applied for a certificate of naturalization
declines or neglects to take the oath or make the affirmation required to
be taken or made by him under this Ordinance, when duly tendered, he
shall be disqualified from obtaining the said certificate and, if the same
has been already granted, it shall become ipso facto void.
13. Where, previously to the commencement of this Ordinance, the
taking of the oaths of allegiance, supremacy, nd abjuration, or any two
or one of such oaths, or any oath substituted therefor, formed a condition
preecedent or subsequent to the attainment by any person of any office
privilege, civil rights, exemption, or other benefit, there shall be sub-
stituted for such oaths or any two or one of them, or for such substitiuted
oath, the oath of allegiance prescribed by this Ordinance.
14. Wherein any oath under this Ordinance the name of Her present
Majesty is expressed, the name of the Sovereign for the time being shall
be substituted from time to time.
15. When an oath is required to be taken under this Ordinance, every
person for the time being by law permitted to make a solemn affirmation
or declaration instead of taking an oath may, instead of taking such
oath, make a solemn affirmation in the form of oath hereby appointed,
subsitituting the words 'solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare and affire'
for the word 'swear' and omitting the words 'So help me God.'
SCHEDULE.
PART I.
The Colonial Secretary,
The Attorney General,
The Colonial Treasureer,
The Auditor General,
PART II.
The Chief Justice,
The Puisne Judge,
The registrar General,
The Police Magistrates,
The Justices of the Peace,
The Marine Magistrate,
The Registrar of the Supreme
Court and the Deputy Registrars,
A.D. 1869. Ordinance No. 4 of 1869. with Ordinance No. 2 of 1887 incorporated Short title. Form of oath of allegiance. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 2. Form of official oath. Ib.s.3. Form of judicial oath. Ib.s.4. Persons to take oath of allegiance, and official oath. Schedule: Part I. Ib.s.5. Persons to take oath of allegiance and judicial oath. Schedule: Part II. Ib.s.6. Oaths of Executive Councillor. Oath of Legislative Councillor. Oaths of Clerk of Councils. Oath of alien on naturalization. Consequence of officer, etc., not taking required oath. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 7. Consequence of alien not taking required oath. Oath of allegiance in the Ordinance substituted for oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and adjuration. Ib.s.8. Substitution of name of Sovereign for time being in oath. Ib.s.10. Provision in favour of persons permitted to make affirmations. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 11. Section 5. Section 6.
Abstract
A.D. 1869. Ordinance No. 4 of 1869. with Ordinance No. 2 of 1887 incorporated Short title. Form of oath of allegiance. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 2. Form of official oath. Ib.s.3. Form of judicial oath. Ib.s.4. Persons to take oath of allegiance, and official oath. Schedule: Part I. Ib.s.5. Persons to take oath of allegiance and judicial oath. Schedule: Part II. Ib.s.6. Oaths of Executive Councillor. Oath of Legislative Councillor. Oaths of Clerk of Councils. Oath of alien on naturalization. Consequence of officer, etc., not taking required oath. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 7. Consequence of alien not taking required oath. Oath of allegiance in the Ordinance substituted for oaths of allegiance, supremacy, and adjuration. Ib.s.8. Substitution of name of Sovereign for time being in oath. Ib.s.10. Provision in favour of persons permitted to make affirmations. 31 & 32 Vict.c. 72 s. 11. Section 5. Section 6.
Identifier
https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/576
Edition
1901
Volume
v1
Subsequent Cap No.
11
Cap / Ordinance No.
No. 1 of 1869
Number of Pages
4
Files
Collection
Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online
Citation
“PROMISSORY OATHS ORDINANCE, 1869,” Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online, accessed January 23, 2025, https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/576.
