632
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25тH JULY, 1891.
Arrival, &c., of steamer out of hours.
(22 of 87, 12.)
Importer's register.
(22 of 87, 14.)
Search for deficiencies. (22 of 87, 16.)
Fenalties.
(22 of 87, 17.)
Optum farin. (1 of 81, 9.)
Opium farmer's licensees. (1 of 84, 15.)
1
of the said raw opium, which permit shall be exhibited to and signed by the opium farmer or his agent, and shall not be used or acted upon till it is so signed, and in the possession of the person intending to move such chest or chests.
20. When any steamer carrying raw opium arrives in or departs from the Colony when the Superintendent's office is closed, or may be closed before application for a permit can be made, the agent of such steamer may land or ship any raw opium without a permit, and may deliver such raw opium to the owner or consignees thereof, or may keep the same in his own custody, but so soon thereafter as the Superintendent's office is opened the said agent shall apply for the permit required by this Ordinance, and shall furnish the necessary particulars.
But in any case in which the Superintendent would have refused to issue an export permit under section 18, he may forbid, and if necessary seize any opium sought to be exported under this section.
21. Every importer of raw opium shall keep a register showing the number of chests imported by him, and how and to whom cach chest was disposed of. The Indian Govern- ment marks and numbers shall be given in the case of Benares or Patna Opium, and, in the case of other sorts of raw opium, such other marks or numbers as the Superin- tendent may require to be placed upon it.
Raw Opium. Stocks and Deficiencies.
22. The Superintendent or his deputy may, at any time, and as often as he shall think fit, demand in writing from any person having any raw opium in his possession, an account in writing of the raw opium so held by such person at the time of such demand, and the marks and numbers of the chests in which such opium is contained. The said Superintendent or his deputy may at any time enter the premises where such raw opium is and inspect the same. Any person refusing to give such account, or without reasonable cause shown, to permit such entry, or giving a false or incorrect account, shall be liable ou sum- mary conviction to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars or in default to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period of not exceeding six months.
23. If any raw opium is found, on inspection or search, to have been imported contrary to this Ordinance, or to be missing from the place in which it was stored on importa- tion, or from the place where, according to the permits, it ought to be found stored, the person in whose possession such raw opium may be found, or in whose name such raw opium shall have been stored, shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars for every chest of raw opium so imported or so missing or in default to imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period of not exceeding one month in respect of the penalty adjudged for each chest, but so that the total imprisonment shall not exceed six months.
Farms.
24. The Governor in Council may grant to any person, for such considerations, and upon such conditions, and for such periods, and in such form as from time to time may be determined by the Governor in Council, and previously notified in the Gazette, the sole privilege of preparing opium either inclusive or exclusive of dross opium, and of selling within the Colony opium so prepared. Such pri- vilege may from time to time be granted to the highest bidder either by scaled tender or at public auction, and such tendering or auction shall be previously notified in the Gazette, and in Chinese by advertisement in a public иewspaper. The successful bidder shall, before he is declared the purchaser of such exclusive privilege, give bond with sureties in the sum of eighty thousand dollars at the least, to the satisfaction of the Governor in Council, for the due performance of the conditions of such privilege, and of his stipulations in respect thereof.
25. The opium farmer may in his discretion graut licences to suitable persons authorising them to prepare opium, or to sell opium so prepared, but subject to such conditions as shall from time to time be approved by the Governor in Council, and previously notified in the Gazette. The provisions of section 28 as to fines for breaches of regulations shall apply equally to all breaches of regulations as to the preparation or sale of opium imposed on licensees under this section,