TRIAD AND UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, 1887
Title
TRIAD AND UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, 1887
Description
ORDINANCE No. 2 OF 1887.
Triad and Unlawful Societies
AN ORDINANCE for the Supression of the Triad and other Unlawful
Societies and for the Punishment of the Members
thereof.
[13th April,1887.]
WHEREAS the Triad and other societies are formed for unlawful
purposes and constitute a danger to the peace of the Colony,and
whereas it is expedient to amend the laws respecting such societies:
BE it therefore enacted by the Governor of Hongkong,with the advice
of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1.This Ordinance may be cited as the Triad and Unlawful Societies
Ordinance,1887.
2.-(1.)The society known by the name of the Triad Society or
Samhopui,and other societies by whatever name known formed for an
unlawful purpose or having among their objects purposes incompatible
with the peace and good order of the Colony,are hereby declared to be
unlawful societies.
(2.)Every person who acts as manager of office bearer,or assists in
any way in the conduct of the business or in managing the affairs,of any such unlawful society shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall,
on conviction in the Supreme Court,be liable to a fine not exceeding
one thousand dollars,or to imprisonment,with or without hard labour,
for any term not exceeding twelve months,or to both fine and imprison-
ment.
(3.)Every person who is a member,or attends and takes part in any
meeting,of any such unlawful society,or who subscribes or pays money,
or gives aid or procures from others subsciptions,money,or aid,for or
towards the maintenance of any such unlawful society,shall,on conviction
in the Supreme Court,be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars,or to imprisonment,with or without hard labour,for any term
not exceeding six months,or to both fine and imprisonment.
3.-(1.)All meetings of the said societies are hereby declared to be
unlawful and prohibited accordingly.
(2.)If an such meeting any oath,or any engagement,obligation,
or promise,relating to the objects of any unlawful society is adminiatered
or tendered to any person,such tendering or administering of any oath,
engagement,obligation,or promise shall be prima facie evidence that
the meeting is a meeting of an unlawful society.
4.It shall be lawful for any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace to
enter,with or without assistance,or to order any Police officer or other
person,in his presence or by warrant under his hand and seal,to enter,
with or without assistance,using force in either case,if necessary,into
any dwelling house or other building,or into any place,in which he
may have reasonable ground to believe that a meeting of any society
declared by this Ordinance to be an unlawful society is being held or
that five or more persons belonging to any such unlawful society are
assembled,and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons found at any
such meeting,and to search the premises and seize or cause to be seized
all books,papers,documents,flags,insignia,arms,and other aricles
which he may have reasonable cause to believe to belong to any such
society or to be in any way connected with the purposes of the meeting.
5.All persons so arrested and all articles so seized may be detained
in custody till they can conveniently be brought before a Magistrate,
to be dealt with according to law.
6.If,on any such entry,copies of any rules or regulations,or en-
gagements,obligations,or promises,or lists or names of members of any
unlawful society,or if any insignia,banners,writings,paintings,draw-
ings,or other articles relating or belonging to any unlawful society,are
found,the finding thereof,or the fact of an oath or an engagement,
obligation,or promise having been administered or tendered at the
meeting, shall be prima facie evidence that the meeting was a meeting
of an unlawful society.
7.Every person who-
(1.)attends a meeting of an unlawful society, knowing that such
meeting was a meeting of an unlawful society; or
(2.)continues to attend such meeting after having been warned by
any Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, or Police officer that the
meeting is a meeting of an unlawful society,
shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a lenalty not exceeding one
hundred dollars, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for
any term not exceeding six months, or to both penalty and imprison-
ment.
8.Every person who knowingly allows a meeting of an unlawful
society to be held in any house, building, or place belonging to or
occupied by him or over which he has control shall,on summary con-
viction, he liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars,or to
imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for six months,or to both
penalty and imprisonment.
9.Every person shall be considered a member of an unlawful society
who-
(1.)has been admitted as a member according to the rules and
regulations thereof; or
(2.)has paid an entrance fee or a subscription;or
(3.)has attended two or more meetings of the society as a member;
or
(4.)has signed the roll of members of the society; or,
(5.)having once become a member, has not resigned, or withdrawn,
or been expelled from the society.
10.When any of the banners, insihnia, or writings of any society
declared by this Ordinance to be an unlawful society are found in the
possession, custody, or control of any person, it shal be presumed, until
the contrary is shown by such person, that he is a member of such un-
lawful society.
A.D. 1887. Ordinance No. 8 of 1887.
Short title.
Declaration that Triad and other societies are unlawful societies, and punishment of officers and members thereof. Prohibition of meetings of unlawful society. Power to Magistrate, etc., to enter house, etc., where unlawful meeting is held, and to arrest person, etc. Disposal of persons arrested, etc. What to be deemed prima facie evidence of unlawful meeting. Punishment for attending unlawful meeting. Punishment of person allowing unlawful meeting in his house, etc. Definition of member of unlawful society. Presumptive proof of membership of unlawful society.
Triad and Unlawful Societies
AN ORDINANCE for the Supression of the Triad and other Unlawful
Societies and for the Punishment of the Members
thereof.
[13th April,1887.]
WHEREAS the Triad and other societies are formed for unlawful
purposes and constitute a danger to the peace of the Colony,and
whereas it is expedient to amend the laws respecting such societies:
BE it therefore enacted by the Governor of Hongkong,with the advice
of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1.This Ordinance may be cited as the Triad and Unlawful Societies
Ordinance,1887.
2.-(1.)The society known by the name of the Triad Society or
Samhopui,and other societies by whatever name known formed for an
unlawful purpose or having among their objects purposes incompatible
with the peace and good order of the Colony,are hereby declared to be
unlawful societies.
(2.)Every person who acts as manager of office bearer,or assists in
any way in the conduct of the business or in managing the affairs,of any such unlawful society shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall,
on conviction in the Supreme Court,be liable to a fine not exceeding
one thousand dollars,or to imprisonment,with or without hard labour,
for any term not exceeding twelve months,or to both fine and imprison-
ment.
(3.)Every person who is a member,or attends and takes part in any
meeting,of any such unlawful society,or who subscribes or pays money,
or gives aid or procures from others subsciptions,money,or aid,for or
towards the maintenance of any such unlawful society,shall,on conviction
in the Supreme Court,be liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred
dollars,or to imprisonment,with or without hard labour,for any term
not exceeding six months,or to both fine and imprisonment.
3.-(1.)All meetings of the said societies are hereby declared to be
unlawful and prohibited accordingly.
(2.)If an such meeting any oath,or any engagement,obligation,
or promise,relating to the objects of any unlawful society is adminiatered
or tendered to any person,such tendering or administering of any oath,
engagement,obligation,or promise shall be prima facie evidence that
the meeting is a meeting of an unlawful society.
4.It shall be lawful for any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace to
enter,with or without assistance,or to order any Police officer or other
person,in his presence or by warrant under his hand and seal,to enter,
with or without assistance,using force in either case,if necessary,into
any dwelling house or other building,or into any place,in which he
may have reasonable ground to believe that a meeting of any society
declared by this Ordinance to be an unlawful society is being held or
that five or more persons belonging to any such unlawful society are
assembled,and to arrest or cause to be arrested all persons found at any
such meeting,and to search the premises and seize or cause to be seized
all books,papers,documents,flags,insignia,arms,and other aricles
which he may have reasonable cause to believe to belong to any such
society or to be in any way connected with the purposes of the meeting.
5.All persons so arrested and all articles so seized may be detained
in custody till they can conveniently be brought before a Magistrate,
to be dealt with according to law.
6.If,on any such entry,copies of any rules or regulations,or en-
gagements,obligations,or promises,or lists or names of members of any
unlawful society,or if any insignia,banners,writings,paintings,draw-
ings,or other articles relating or belonging to any unlawful society,are
found,the finding thereof,or the fact of an oath or an engagement,
obligation,or promise having been administered or tendered at the
meeting, shall be prima facie evidence that the meeting was a meeting
of an unlawful society.
7.Every person who-
(1.)attends a meeting of an unlawful society, knowing that such
meeting was a meeting of an unlawful society; or
(2.)continues to attend such meeting after having been warned by
any Magistrate, Justice of the Peace, or Police officer that the
meeting is a meeting of an unlawful society,
shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a lenalty not exceeding one
hundred dollars, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for
any term not exceeding six months, or to both penalty and imprison-
ment.
8.Every person who knowingly allows a meeting of an unlawful
society to be held in any house, building, or place belonging to or
occupied by him or over which he has control shall,on summary con-
viction, he liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars,or to
imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for six months,or to both
penalty and imprisonment.
9.Every person shall be considered a member of an unlawful society
who-
(1.)has been admitted as a member according to the rules and
regulations thereof; or
(2.)has paid an entrance fee or a subscription;or
(3.)has attended two or more meetings of the society as a member;
or
(4.)has signed the roll of members of the society; or,
(5.)having once become a member, has not resigned, or withdrawn,
or been expelled from the society.
10.When any of the banners, insihnia, or writings of any society
declared by this Ordinance to be an unlawful society are found in the
possession, custody, or control of any person, it shal be presumed, until
the contrary is shown by such person, that he is a member of such un-
lawful society.
A.D. 1887. Ordinance No. 8 of 1887.
Short title.
Declaration that Triad and other societies are unlawful societies, and punishment of officers and members thereof. Prohibition of meetings of unlawful society. Power to Magistrate, etc., to enter house, etc., where unlawful meeting is held, and to arrest person, etc. Disposal of persons arrested, etc. What to be deemed prima facie evidence of unlawful meeting. Punishment for attending unlawful meeting. Punishment of person allowing unlawful meeting in his house, etc. Definition of member of unlawful society. Presumptive proof of membership of unlawful society.
Abstract
A.D. 1887. Ordinance No. 8 of 1887.
Short title.
Declaration that Triad and other societies are unlawful societies, and punishment of officers and members thereof. Prohibition of meetings of unlawful society. Power to Magistrate, etc., to enter house, etc., where unlawful meeting is held, and to arrest person, etc. Disposal of persons arrested, etc. What to be deemed prima facie evidence of unlawful meeting. Punishment for attending unlawful meeting. Punishment of person allowing unlawful meeting in his house, etc. Definition of member of unlawful society. Presumptive proof of membership of unlawful society.
Short title.
Declaration that Triad and other societies are unlawful societies, and punishment of officers and members thereof. Prohibition of meetings of unlawful society. Power to Magistrate, etc., to enter house, etc., where unlawful meeting is held, and to arrest person, etc. Disposal of persons arrested, etc. What to be deemed prima facie evidence of unlawful meeting. Punishment for attending unlawful meeting. Punishment of person allowing unlawful meeting in his house, etc. Definition of member of unlawful society. Presumptive proof of membership of unlawful society.
Identifier
https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/631
Edition
1901
Volume
v1
Subsequent Cap No.
151
Cap / Ordinance No.
No. 2 of 1887
Number of Pages
3
Files
Collection
Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online
Citation
“TRIAD AND UNLAWFUL SOCIETIES ORDINANCE, 1887,” Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online, accessed June 7, 2025, https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/631.
