OPIUM.
No. 23 of 1909.
1837
person or in any unauthorised place, all raw opium found in the possession of such person or in such place may be seized by any police or excise officer.
(2) If the Magistrate considers that there is reason to believe that the unlawful preparation of opium was carried on by such unauthorised person or in such unauthorised place, or if any implement within the meaning of this Ordinance is found in the possession of such person or in such place, the Magistrate may order such opium or such implement to be forfeited, and may, in his discretion, direct that it be delivered to the opium farmer,
opium.
75.-(1) When any opium or any implement is found without being apparently in the possession of any person, or when the opium farmer shall have proved to the satisfaction of a Magistrate that he is unable to proceed against any individual with respect to any opium or any implement as to which an offence has been committed against this Ordinance, by reason of the fact that the offender is out of the jurisdiction or cannot be found, the Magistrate may cause a notice in English and Chinese to be affixed to the place where such opium or implement has been found, where it is known to be stored, calling upon the owner thereof to claim the same.
(2) If no person makes such a claim within one week from the affixing of such notice, or if any such claim is made within the like period but is not subsequently substantiated to the satisfaction of a Magistrate, such opium or implement shall be forfeited, and may be delivered by the Magistrate, in his discretion, to the opium farmer.
76.—(1) Every person who conceals or secretly places any opium in any part of any steamship shall, on summary conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 500 dollars.
steamship.
(2) Any opium concealed or secretly placed as aforesaid shall be seized, and the Magistrate may, whether any person is charged with or convicted of any offence under this section or not, order such opium to be forfeited; and if the opium farmer, within one week after such forfeiture, proves, to the satisfaction of a Magistrate, that any opium so forfeited was not covered by a certificate under section 39, and that he was not privy to its being brought on
* As amended by No. 30 of 1911 and No. 12 of 1912.
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