Amendment of
Bection 23B.
Amendment of section 230.
Addition of
new sections 23D, 23E and 23F.
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3. Section 23B of the principal Ordinance is amended by inserting, after "criminal", the following-
"or civil".
4. Section 23C of the principal Ordinance is amended by inserting, after “criminal”, the following-
5.
"or civil".
The principal Ordinance is amended by adding, after section 230, the following new sections—
"Gavem-
ment Chemist's certificates. Scbedak. Form I.
Certificates
as to photo- graphic process.
Schedule,
Forat 3.
230. (1) A document in the form set out in Form I of the Schedule purporting to be signed by the Government Chemist and purporting to be a certificate as to any article or substance submitted to him for chemical examination or analysis shall be admitted in evidence in criminal or civil proceedings before any court on its production without further proof, and-
(e) until the contrary is proved, the court before which such document is produced shall presume that the signature to the document in genuine and that the person signing it was the Government Chemist at the time when he signed it; and
(b) such document shall be prima facie evidence
of all matters contained therein.
(2) A document given for the purposes of sub- section (1) may be signed by the Government Chemist when any chemical examination or analysis has been made by a person acting under his supervision and direction and the Government Chemist is satisfied as to the examination or analysis.
(3) Where any document is produced and admilled as evidence under subsection (1), the court may, if it thinks fit, on its own motion or on the application of any party to the proceedings, summon the person who signed the document and examine him as to the subject matter thereof.
23E. (1) A document in the form set out in Form 2 of the Schedule purporting to be signed by a person duly appointed under subsection (2) and pur- porting to be a certificate as to the processing of exposed film received and processed by him shail. together with the photographic prints or photographic
Certified transla- tions of documents.
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enlargements referred to therein, be admitted in evidence in criminal proceedings before any court on its production without further proof, and-
(a) until the contrary is proved, the court before which such document is produced shall presume that the signature to the document is genuine and that the person signing it was duly appointed under subsection (2) at the lime when he signed it; and
(2) such document shall be prima facie evidence
of all matters contained therein.
(2) The Commissioner of Police may appoint in writing such public officers as he thinks fit to carry out the processing of exposed film and to sign certifi- cates under subsection (1) in relation thereto.
(3) Where any document is produced and ad- mitted as evidence under subsection (1), the court may, if it thinks fit, on its own motion or on the application of the prosecution or the defendant, summon the person who signed the document and examine him as to the subject matter thereof.
23F. (1) A document purporting to be signed by a person duly appointed under subsection (2) and purporting to be a certified translation made by him in the English language of a document which has been admitted in evidence and which is written in whole or in part in the Chinese language shall be admitted in evidence in criminal or civil proceedings. before any court on its production without further proof, and, until the contrary is proved, the court before which such document is produced shall pre- sume that--
(a) the signature to the document is genuine; (b) the person signing it was duly appointed under subsection (2) at the time when he signed it; and
(c) the document is an accurate translation in the English language of the document in the Chinese language to which it purports to refer.
(2) The Chief Justice may appoint in writing such public officers as he thinks fit to carry out the translation of documents and to sign certificates under subsection (1) in relation thereto.