Page:Societies Ordinance, 1949 (Cap. 151).pdf/8

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24. In any prosecution under this Ordinance the Magistrate may refer, for the purpose of evidence, to “The Triad Society or Heaven and Earth Association” by William Stanton and to any other published book or articles on the subject of unlawful societies in general or of particular unlawful societies which the Magistrate may consider to be of authority on the subject to which they relate.

25. (1) Any local society in existence at the date of the commencement of this Ordinance shall make application for registration in accordance with section 5 within thirty days of such date.

(2) Notwithstanding section 9 no such society (not being a Triad Society) shall be deemed to be an unlawful society until such period of thirty days has elapsed and such society has failed to obtain an order for registration or exemption from registration.

26. (1) The Governor in Council may from time to time make rules for the purposes following or any of them:—
 * (a) to prescribe the manner of exemption and registration of societies under this Ordinance;
 * (b) to regulate or restrict changes of the name or objects of exempted or registered societies;
 * (c) to regulate or restrict changes of the place of business or place of meetings of registered societies or of exempted societies;
 * (d) to prescribe the forms which may be used for carrying out the provisions of this Ordinance;
 * (e) to prescribe information to be furnished to the Registrar;
 * (f) generally for carrying into effect the provisions of this Ordinance in relation to any matters, whether similar or not to those in this sub-section mentioned, as to which it may be expedient to make rules.

(2) A contravention of any rule made under this Ordinance shall be an offence and a person guilty thereof shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months unless a lesser penalty is prescribed by rule.

(3) The rules in the Schedule to this Ordinance shall be in force except so far as they may be rescinded or amended by rules made under this section.

27. This Ordinance shall continue in force until and including the 31st December, 1950: Provided that it shall be lawful for the Legislative Council from time to time by resolution to extend the duration of this Ordinance for such term, not exceeding one year at a time, as may be specified in such resolution.

28. The Societies Ordinance, 1920, is hereby repealed.