270 THE HONGKONG GOVT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY, 12TH APRIL, 1894.
Section subs-
tituted for section 39 of No. 21 of 1891.
Disposal of opium for. feited to the Crown.
Protection of possession in accordance with disposai order, &c.
Reward to in former optional.
4. In lieu of section 39 of the principal Ordinance the following words shall be substituted :-
Any opium forfeited to the Crown may be sold, des- troyed or otherwise disposed of as the Governor in Council may direct, and no Police Officer or other person having any opium seized under the preceding section in his possession for the pur- pose of retaining the same until forfeiture or until its disposal is determined upon by the Governor in Council or afterwards for the purpose of giving effect to such order of disposition and no person purchasing, exporting, using or having in his possession any opium ordered to be disposed of by the Governor in Council and obtained by such person in accordance with or in pursuance of such order of disposition, shall be liable to any penalty under the principal Ordinance by reason of such opium not being accompanied by a certificate under section 12 of such Ordinance or otherwise.
The Governor in Council may, in his discretion, author- ize the award to the informer of such portion as he may think fit of the proceeds of the sale of any opium forfeited to the Crown and disposed of by sale.
Reasons.
The working of sections 38 and 39 of Ordinance No. 21 of 1891 having proved unsatisfactory, it is deemed expe- dient to substitute two amended sections.
The substituted sections will, it is believed, afford reason- able additional protection to ships bound for or about to proceed to Canton or Macao without involving any hard- ship upon the Opium Farmer. Where he can show that he was no party to the improper shipment of opium he can apply to have the forfeited opium delivered to him.
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