18 ORDINANCE No. 8 OF 1844.
Distillation of Spirits .
No. 8 of 1844.
Title.
An Ordinance for prohibiting the distillation of spirits within the Colony
of Hongkong .
[ 20th March, 1844. ]
Preamble. HEREAS it is expedient to prohibit the distillation of spirits within the Colony
Distillation of
spirits prohi W of Hongkong : Be it therefore enacted by His Excellency the Governor of
bited.
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 .
Nopersontokeep 2. And be it further enacted , and ordained, that from, and after the passing of
or use a still
ander a penalty this Ordinance, it shall not be lawful for any person, except as hereinafter is excepted,
of two thousand
ve hundred
dollars. to have, 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 .
Apothecaries 3. And be it further enacted and ordained , that it shall and may be lawful for the
chemists and
druggists may * Chief Magistrate of Police for the time being, or other person to be appointed by the
have stills of
eight gallons
contents. Governor, for the time being, for that purpose, to issue a licence free of all charge, to
[ See Ordinance any apothecary, chemist, or druggist, applying for the same to keep and use on his
No. 6 of 1862. ]
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 licence, shall forfeit, and pay a sum not
exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars.
Justice of the 4. And be it further enacted and ordained, that it shall and may be lawful for any
Peace, Officer of
Customs or other
person duly Justice of the Peace, Officer of Customs, or other person duly and lawfully authorized ,
appointed sns
pecting private having reasonable grounds to believe, and suspect that any private and concealed still,
distillation may
enter house or or other utensil, or vessel for the distillation of spirits, is set up, or kept , in any house,
place and seize
still. 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