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DROIT B HONGKONG. ANNO SEXTO ET SEPTIMO VICTORIE REGINÆ. No. 8 of 1844.
By His Excellency Sir HENRY POTTINGER, Baronet, Knight Grand Cross of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, Major General in the Service of the East India Company, Governor, and Commander in Chief of the Colony of Hongkong, and its Dependencies, and Superintendent of the Trade of Her Majesty's Subjects in China, with the advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.
Title.
Preamble.
Distillation of
An Ordinance for prohibiting the distillation of Spirits within the Colony of Hongkong.
WHEREAS it is expedient to prohibit the distillation of Spirits within the Colony of Hongkong. Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that from, and after the passing of this Ordinance, all distillation of Spirits from grain, sugar, molasses, fruit, or any other materials whatsoever, and all rectifying, and compounding thereof, within the Colony of Hongkong, and its dependencies, shall be, and the same is hereby prohibited.
2. And be it further enacted, and ordained, that from, and after the passing of this Ordinance, it shall not be lawful for any person, except as hereinafter is excepted, to have, or use a still under keep, or make use of any still, or other utensil or vessel for distilling Spirits, in any place, or part of the said Colony of Hongkong, and its dependencies, under a penalty of a sum not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars, to be recovered as hereinafter directed.
3. And be it further enacted and ordained, that it shall and may be lawful for the Chief Magistrate of Police for the time being, or other person to be appointed by the Governor, for the time being, for that purpose, to issue a license free of all charge, to any Apothecary, Chemist, or Druggist, applying for the same, to keep and use on his premises a still of not more than eight gallons contents, for the purposes of his trade only, provided that every person, wishing to keep such still, shall notify his intention so to do to the said Chief Magistrate, or other person appointed as aforesaid, who shall thereupon require such person to give a bond, with two sufficient sureties, in the sum of one thousand dollars, that he will not make use of such still, or suffer it to be made use of, except for the preparation of medicines, or other articles required bona fide for medical purposes, and every such person found to have such still, without having entered into such bond, and obtained such license, shall forfeit, and pay a sum not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars.
4. And be it further enacted and ordained, that it shall and may be lawful for any Justice of the Peace, Officer of Customs, or other person duly and lawfully authorized, having reasonable grounds to believe, and suspect that any private and concealed still, or other utensil, or vessel for the distillation of Spirits, is set up, or kept, in any house, or place within the said Colony, or its dependencies, to enter into such house, or place in the day time, and accompanied by a Peace Officer, to search for, and seize any such still, utensil, or vessel, and also all spirits, and other materials preparing for distillation, and either to detain, and keep the same in the house, or place, where found, or to remove the same to the customs, or police office, or other place in charge of the officer of customs, or chief police magistrate, or as they, or one of them, or any justice of the peace shall direct, and the said still, or vessel, and all spirits, and other materials being prepared solely for distillation, shall be absolutely forfeited, and the proprietor, or owner, or occupier of any house, or place, where any such private and concealed still, utensil, or vessel, shall be so found, and seized, or the person or persons in whose custody the same shall be
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