FIRE INVESTIGATION ORDINANCE, 1895
Title
FIRE INVESTIGATION ORDINANCE, 1895
Description
No. 8 of 1895.
To authorise Judicial Investigations into the causes of Fire.
[18th December, 1895.]
1. The Fire Investigation Ordinance, 1895.
2. Whenever a fire has taken place on any premises, or has been
attempted, the Captain Superintendent of Police shall, as soon as
possible, take possession of such premises and of any other premises
where the fire is supposed to have originated, to the exclusion, if
he deems it necessary, of the owners and all others; and he shall
make or cause to be made, either personally or by some officer of
not lower grade than an Inspector of Police, a full and minute
inspection of such premises, and shall forthwith make, a written
report in detail to a Magistrate of the state of the said premises and
of the contents, if any, thereof, furnishnig also all such information
touching the origin and of circumstance of the fire may be able
to obtain.
3. On the receipt of such report, the Magistrate, unless, on con-
sideration of the facts stated therein, he is of opinion that such
inquiry is unnecessary, shall proceed to investigate the causes of
the fire, and shall, with as little delay as practicable, take the
depositions upon oath of all persons likely to know the facts
and circumstances and of all other persons who, in his opinion, may
be able to furnish inforination in respect thereof.
4. It shall be lawful for any Inspector of Police, or for any
interested person, with the leave of the Magistrate, to examine
at such investigation, either in person or by counsel or solicitor, the
witnesses, and to cause such persons to be examined as may give
due and proper information touching such case of fire.
5. If, in the opinion of the Magistrate, the investigation does
not disclose any offence or, although it discloses an offence, does not
show any reasonable cause for suspecting any person of having com-
As amended by No. 1 of 1912.
As amended by No. 5O of 1911 and No. 1 of 1912.
mitted such offence, the Magistrate shall close the inquiry and order
the release of the premises : Provided that such closure and release
shall be no bar to any information or proceedings against any person
for an offence against the law.
6. If, in the opinion of the Magistrate, the fire is the result of
crime, and there is reasonable cause to suspect and he does suspect
any person of having committed in offence the law, he shall
have power to conimit such person to prison to answer any charge
that may be brought against him or to require him to give security,
to his satisfaction, to appear and surrender to answer any such
charge, and, on such charge, the Magistrate may take the evidence
as in other cases.
7. For the purpose of this Ordinance,and in relation to all in-
vestigations held thereunder, and for the sumnoning of witnesses,
and for all proceedings in connexion with such investigations, the
Magistrate shall have all the powers possessed by a Magistrate in
relation to cases of indictable offences, and the Captain
Superintendent of Police shall render him all proper and necessary
assistance.
8. Except on an order froin the Magistrate, who may, on good
cause shown, give such order, any person who removes or attempts
to remove any property from premises in possession of the police
under this Ordinance shall, on suniniary conviction, be liable to a
fine not exceeding 100 dollars, or to imprisonment for any term not
exceeding 6 months.
Short title. In case of fire Captain Superintendent to take possession of premises and report. Inquiry by Magistrate into cases of fire. Examination of witnesses. Close of inquiry and release of premises. Committal of suspected person to answer charge. Power to summon witnesses, etc. Removing property from premises burned, etc.
Abstract
Short title. In case of fire Captain Superintendent to take possession of premises and report. Inquiry by Magistrate into cases of fire. Examination of witnesses. Close of inquiry and release of premises. Committal of suspected person to answer charge. Power to summon witnesses, etc. Removing property from premises burned, etc.
Identifier
https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/878
Edition
1912
Volume
v1
Subsequent Cap No.
12
Cap / Ordinance No.
No. 8 of 1895
Number of Pages
2
Files
Collection
Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online
Citation
“FIRE INVESTIGATION ORDINANCE, 1895,” Historical Laws of Hong Kong Online, accessed October 21, 2024, https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/878.