LAUNCH (PROTECTION AGAINST PIRACY) ORDINANCE, 1900

LAUNCH (PROTECTION AGAINST PIRACY) ORDINANCE, 1900

No. 7 of 1900.

To ensure the observance, by those in charge of Launches, of
precautions against Piracy and Robbery.

[20th October, 1900.]
WHEREAS it is manifest that the commission of acts of piracy and
robbery upon launches has, in certain cases, been facilitated by
the apathy and carelessness of those in charge of such launches
and by their omission to take reasonable precautions against
such acts; AND WHEREAS there is reason to suspect that, in some
instances, members of the crew of such launches have been in
collusion with the robbers or have connived at their unlawful acts;
AND WHEREAS it is expedient to provide a remedy for this evil:-
1. The Launch (Protection against Piracy) Ordinance, 1900.

As amended by No. 1 of 1912.
As amended by No. 32 of 1911.
As amiended by No. 1 of 1912 and No. 8 of 1912.
As amiended by No. 8 of I912.





2. In this Ordinance ' launch ' means a steamship of less than
60 tons burden licensed to ply for hire within the. waters of this
Colony or to any place outside such waters, and includes a ' motor-
boat ' as defined in section 2 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance,
1899,

3. The licensee of every launch shall, on being required in writing
to do so by the Captain Superintendent of Police, enter into a bond,
together with one or more sureties resident in the Colony and to
be approved by the Captain Superintendent, conditioned in the sum
of 1,000 dollars for the observance by the owner, master, and crew
of such launch of reasonable precautions against the commission of
any, piracy or robbery on or in respect of such launch, its cargo, or its
passengers.

4,-(1) It shall be the duty of the owner, master, and members
of the crew of every launch to observe all such precautions against
piracy and robbery as may be prescribed in writing by the Captain
Superintendent of Police, with the approval of the Governor.

(2) A copy thereof shall be furnished to each licensee, and failure
to observe any of them shall be deemed conclusive proof of neglect
to take reasonable precautions against piracy or robbery.

5. in the event of any piracy or robbery occuring on or in respect
of any launch, its cargo, or its passengers, It shall be lawful for a
Magistrate, at the request of the Captain Superintendent of Police,
and notwithstanding that none of the alleged pirates or robbers have
been arrested and charged before him, to hold an inquiry into the
case and to take the depositions npon oath of all persons likely, in
his opinion, to know the facts or to be. able to furnish information
in respect thereof.

6. For the purposes of this Ordinance and in relation to all
inquiries held thereunder, and for the summoning of witnesses, and
for all proceedings in connexion with any such inquiry, the
Magistrate shall have all the powers of a Magistrate in relation to
preliminary inquiries in cases of indictable offences, and the Cap-
tain Superintendent of Police shall render to him all proper ,and
necessary assistance.

As Rmejicle(l b v No. 1 of 1912 and _No. 8 of 1912.
A,; jimencled by No. 1 of 1912, No. 2 of 1912 nud No. A of 1912.
~\,.A wnwiled 1) v No. 50 of 1911, No. 1 of 1912, No. 2 or 1912 mid
'No. 8 of 1912.
A~ anionded by No. 1 of f912 nii(l No. 2 (f 1912.
7. If, on such inquiry or on the evidence taken in the ordinary
course in the case of any person charged before such Magistrate and
alleged to have taken part in or to have been concerned in such
piracy or robbery, the Magistrate is of opinion that the commission
thereof was facilitated by the neglect of the owner, master, or any
of the crew of the launch to take reasonable precautions against such
piracy or robbery, or that there is reason to believe that such owner
or master or any member of the crew was in collusion with any of
the pirates or robbers or connived at their unlawful acts, the Ma-
gistrate may order the security given to be estreated, and thereupon
the sum secured shall be forthwith forfeited.

8. Where the Magistrate makes such order he shall report the
fact, together with the circumstances of the case, to the Colonial
Secretary for the information of the Governor.

9. If, on consideration of such report, the Governor deems
it expedient, he may order the licence of the owner of the launch to
be cancelled forthwith or to be suspended during such period as be
may deem fit.

10. Nothing in this Ordinance shall be deemed to prevent or
prejudice the prosecution of any person for piracy or robbery or for
being accessory thereto before or after the fact.

Short title. Interpretation. Licensee of launch may be required to enter into bond. Duty of owner, etc., of launch to observe precautions prescribed. Inquiry by Magistrate into case of piracy or robbery on launch. Power of Magistrate on inquiry. [cf. No. 3 of 1890.] Power to Magistrate to estreat security. Report by Magistrate to Colonial Secretary. Cancellation or suspension of licence. Saving of prosecution for piracy or robbery.

Short title. Interpretation. Licensee of launch may be required to enter into bond. Duty of owner, etc., of launch to observe precautions prescribed. Inquiry by Magistrate into case of piracy or robbery on launch. Power of Magistrate on inquiry. [cf. No. 3 of 1890.] Power to Magistrate to estreat security. Report by Magistrate to Colonial Secretary. Cancellation or suspension of licence. Saving of prosecution for piracy or robbery.

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1912

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No. 7 of 1900

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