408
A BILL
Short title.
Validating of acts pre- viously done,
and indem- nity there- for.
Power to Governor to seize and sell rice.
Payment of
compensa- tion.
Board to fix compensa- tion.
No addition for compul-
sory pur- chase.
Prohibition of non-com
+
pliance with
order.
INTITULED
An Ordinance for the acquisition and disposal of Rice by the Hongkong Government, and for validating acts previously done.
BE it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Rice Ordi- nance, 1919.
2. All acts beretofore done by the Officer Administer- ing the Government of Hongkong, or by any Officer of the Hongkong Government or by any person acting under the direction of the said Officer Administering the Government or of any Officer of the Hongkong Govern- ment in regard to the seizure and taking possession of or the prohibition of the exportation of rice are hereby made and declared to be lawful and are confirmed as on and from the time of the performance of such acts and the said Officer Administering the Govern- ment and every such officer or person as aforesaid are hereby freed acquitted discharged and indemnified, as well against the King's Most Gracious Majesty his heirs and successors as against all and every person and per- sons whatever, from all legal proceedings of any kind whatever, whether civil or criminal, in respect of any such acts as aforesaid.
3.--(1) The Governor may, at any time when he thinks fit, and in time of peace as well as in time of war, order the seizure and taking possession of any rice within the limits of the Colony, and may sell such rice for consumption in the Colony.
(2.) The Governor shall, out of the public funds of the Colony, pay to every person whose rice shall be taken, by virtue of sub-section (1) of this section, such compensation as shall be agreed on between the Governor and such person, and, in default of agreement, such compensation as shall be awarded by a Board con- stituted as hereinafter mentioned, whose award shall be final.
(3.) For the purpose of determining the amount of compensation payable for any rice taken under sub- section (1) of this section the Governor shall appoint a Board consisting of five persons, of whom one shall be a Judge or Stipendiary Magistrate, two shall be officers' either in the Civil Government of the Colony or in His Majesty's naval or military service, and the other two shall be inhabitants of the Colony. All questions referred to the said Board shall, in case of a difference of opinion, be decided by the votes of the majority of the members. The Judge or Stipendiary Magistrate shall be the Chair- man of the Board,
(4.) The said Board, in fixing the price to be paid for rice taken under sub-section (1) of this section, shall not make any addition on account of the purchase being compulsory.
(5.) Every person who refuses or neglects to obey or comply with any order made under this section or does anything whereby the execution of any such order is prevented or hindered, or with intent to prevent or hinder the execution of any such order, shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.