292
[No. 1:-21.12.32.-1.]
Short title.
New Section
20A for
Ordinance No. 40 of 1932.
Fortune telling.
Ordinance No. 7 of 1928.
A BILL
INTITULED
An Ordinance to amend the Summary Offences Ordinance,
1932.
BE it enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Summary Offences Amendment Ordinance, 1933.
2. The Summary Offences Ordinance, 1932, is amended by the insertion of the following new section after section 20 thereof :-
20A.--(1) Every person who pretends or professes to tell fortunes, or uses any subtle craft, means or device by palm- istry, divination, sortilege, astrology, phrenology, physiogno- mics, or otherwise to deceive and impose on any one, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months; and the magistrate may order to be forfeited any book or other article used or capable of being used by the offender for the purposes of the offence.
(2) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prohibit the practice of fortune telling in Chinese temples registered under the Chinese Temples Ordinance. 1928, and conducted by the temple-keepers in accordance with the religious princi- ples governing Miu, Tsz. Kun, To Yuen or Om in the worship of gods or communication with spirits.
(3) No prosecution under this section shall be instituted without the consent of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs : Provided that such consent shall not be necessary for the arrest of any person suspected of having committed an offence against this section.
Objects and Reasons.
1. Fortune telling in the Colony is recognised to some extent by the provisions of the Chinese Temples Ordinance, 1928, which provides for the registration of places where in accordance with the religious principles governing Miu, Tsz, Kun, To Yuen or Om, worship of gods, or communication of spirits, or fortune telling, is practiced.
2. In the Straits Settlements any person who pretends to tell fortunes, or uses any subtle craft, means or device by palmistry, divination, sortilege, or otherwise to deceive or impose on any one is punishable under section 30 of Ordinance No. 96 (Minor Offences) by fine and imprisonment and by the forfeiture of any book or other article used as an implement of fortune telling.