THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, IT SEPTEMBER, 1897.

3. Whenever the Medical Officer of Health shall be of Inspection of opinion or have reason to suspect that any person in the dairies in Colony is suffering from an infectious disease, attributable certain cases. to milk supplied, within the Colony, from any dairy situate hibit supply

Power to pro- within the Colony, or that the consumption of milk from of milk. such dairy is likely to cause infectious disease to any person residing in the Colony, he shall have power to inspect such dairy, and to medically examine any person residing or employed therein whom he may suspect to be suffering from an infectious disease, (unless such person shall pro- duce a certificate in writing from a duly qualified medical practitioner that he or she is not suffering from an infec- tious disease), and, if accompanied by the Colonial Veteri- nary Surgeon, he may inspect and examine the animals therein, and the carcases of any animals that may have died therein, and if, on such inspection and examination of the dairy or of the animals or carcases therein, or ou exa- mination or analysis of the milk supplied from such dairy, or on examination of any person employed or residing therein, or on investigation of the sources of the milk supplied to such dairy, the Medical Officer of Health is satisfied that infectious disease is caused, or may be caused by the consumption of the milk supplied therefrom, ho shall report forthwith to the Colonial Secretary, for the information of the Governor, and the Colonial Secretary shall, thereupon, give notice to the dairyman to show cause in writing within such time, not less than twenty- four hours, as may be specified in the notice, why an order of the Governor in Commeil should not be made requiring him not to supply any milk from such dairy, until such order has been withdrawn; and if, in the opinion of the Governor in Council, he fails to show good cause, then the Governor in Council may make such order as aforesaid. A copy of such order shall be furnished to such dairyman and the order shall also be published in the Government Gazelle. An order made by the Governor in Council in pursuance of this Ordinance shall be withdrawn on the Medical Officer of Health reporting to the Colonial Secro- tary that he is satisfied that the milk supply has been changed or that the cause of the infection has been remov- ed: Provided always, that no dairyman shall be liable to an action for breach of contract, if the breach be due to an order from the Governor in Council made under this Ordinance.

4. Every person who shall refuse to permit any inspec- Penalties. tion or examination authorised by this Ordinance, or who shall wilfully obstruct any authorised officer in carrying out the provisions of this Ordinance; or who shall refuse or neglect to forthwith comply with or to carry out any order of the Governor in Council made under this Ordinance, shall, on summary conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars, and, if the offence is a continuing one, to a daily penalty not exceeding fifty dollars a day so long as the offence continues.

fected

there.

persons

5. Any dairyman who shall allow any person suffering Penalty on from an infectious disease, or who has recently been in contact dairyman with a person so suffering, to milk cows, buffaloes or goats, allowing in- or to handle vessels used for containing milk for sale, or in to milk any way to take part or assist in the conduct of the trade animals or of the dairy so far as regards the production, distribution, or assist in the

conduct of the storage of milk, or to reside in any part of the dairy that is, used for the housing of the cattle or goats, or for the dairy or reside storage of milk, and any dairyman who, while he himself is so suffering, or has recently been in contact with any person suffering from an infections disease, milks cows, buffaloes or goats, or handles vessels containing milk for sale, or in any way takes part or assists in the conduct of his trade so far as regards the production, distribution, or storage of milk, or resides in any part of his dairy that is used for the housing of the cattle or gouts or for the storage of milk, shall be liable, on summary conviction before a Magistrate, to a penalty not execeding one hundred dollars: Provided that it shall be a sufficient defence if such dairymau shall prove that he did not kuow, and had no reason to suspect, that he, or that such person, was suffering from an infectious disease.

Objects and Reasons.

It was found necessary in England to confer power on the Medical Officer of Health to inspect dairies, and, in case he should be of opinion that infectious disease was caused by the consumption of milk supplied from any such dairy, he was required to report his opinion to the local

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