1951-HKRS29-8-18_Part02 — Page 1

Regiatra- tion of newspapers and security therefor.

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(2) For the purposes of this section malice shall be pre sumed in default of evidence showing that, prior to publication, the accused took reasonable measures to verify the truth of the

news.

7. (1) Every local newspaper shall be registered in accordance with the regulations made in that behalf under section 10 and a contravention of this provision shall constitute an offence against this Ordinance. Without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (7) no newspaper shall, without the consent of the Governor in Council, be registered until a deposit of ten thousand Hong Kong dollars has been made with the Re gistrar by or on behalf of the person seeking registration. Such consent may be given subject to such condition as the Governor in Council may see fit to impose and such deposit, while under the control of the Registrar, shall bear interest at the like rate as is for the time being allowed by the Government in respect of sums bearing interest which are on deposit with the Account- ant General,

(2) The money thus deposited shall be available to pay any fine which may be imposed upon the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of the newspaper in question, either under this Ordinance or in respect of any matter appearing in the said newspaper, and shall also be available to pay any damages that may be awarded in any action for libel in respect of any matter appearing in the said newspaper and the costs of any such action.

(3) The Registrar may direct that the whole of such money or such part as may be necessary shall be paid out in respect of such fine, damage or costs.

(4) When any money has been paid out under subsection (3) the Registrar may in his discretion suspend the registration of the newspaper concerned until a deposit has been made with him, in respect of the newspaper concerned, equal to the amount paid out under his direction, and during the period of such sus pension the newspaper shall be deemed to be not registered.

(5) The proprietor of any local newspaper may at any time give notice to the Registrar that he desires the registration of the newspaper to cease and the Registrar may on the receipt of

such notice cancel the registration and the newspaper shall cease to be registered from the date of such cancellation.

(6) After the expiration of six months from any such can- cellation of registration or, in his discretion, before the expira- tion of that period, the Registrar may direct that the sum deposited in respect of such newspaper, or so much of such sum as remains deposited, shall be repaid to the person entitled to receive the same.

(7) It shall be lawful for the Registrar to accept in lieu of the deposit of ten thousand dollars a bond in the said amount, by the person seeking the registration together with two sufficient sureties approved by the Registrar, conditioned for the payment of any fine which may be imposed upon the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of the newspaper in question either under this Ordinance or in respect of any matter appearing in the said newspaper, and also for the payment of any damages that may be awarded in any action for libel in respect of any matter appearing in the said newspaper and the costs of any such action.

(8) Wherever the Registrar has accepted a bond in lieu of the deposit referred to in subsection (1), the Registrar may in his discretion demand such deposit and may suspend the regis- tration of the newspaper concerned until the deposit has been made with him, and during any such suspension the newspaper shall be deemed to be not registered. On the making of such deposit the obligation of the bond shall be deemed to be dis- charged.

to be

8. (1) A licence shall be required for the keeping of a Printing printing press. Such licence shall be issued by and to such presses persons and shall be in such form and be subject generally to licensed. such conditions, including payment of a fee and concellation or revocation as may from time to time be prescribed by regulation made under section 16.

(2) It shall be an offence against this Ordinance for any person to have in his possession any printing press save under and in accordance with such licence as aforesaid.

(3) It shall be lawful for any police officer or revenue officer to seize, remove and detain any printing press kept, used, or in the possession of any person, in contravention of the provisions of this section or of any regulations made under section 16.

(4) It shall be lawful for a magistrate, upon such notice (if any) as he may think fit, to order to be forfeited any printing