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9. Article 11.-The Hong Kong legislation goes further than Article 11 of the Geneva Convention in respect of cannabis sativa and its products. In the first place, all extracts and tinctures of Indian hemp are declared to be included in the dangerous drugs to which the Hong Kong legislation applies: see section 5 (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 7 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928. In the second place, sub-sections (1) and (2) of section 15 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 11 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928, totally prohibit the cultivation of cannabis sativa, and the possession of any specimen or any quantity of the plant or any portion of the plant. In the third place, section 15 (3) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 11 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928, totally prohibits all dealings of any kind whatsoever in cannabis sativa, or any resin obtained from the plant, or any preparation of which the resin forms the base, or any preparation or mixture containing the resin. This latter sub-section includes of course a total prohibition of import and export. It also provides that the prohibitions of the sub-section shall apply whether the goods in question be in the Colony or elsewhere, and whether they be a-cer- tained or appropriated or in existence or not, and whether it be intended that they should be imported into the Colony or not. Extracts and tinctures of Indian hemp are excluded from the operation of this sub-section because they come within the category of dangerous drugs and are treated as such.
10. Article 12.-Section 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928, taken with section 6 (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 8 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928, gives full power to control the importation of dangerous drugs into Hong Kong. In practice a separate import authorization is required for each importation, and the authorization states the quantity to be imported, the name and address of the importer, and the name and address of the exporter, and specifies the period within which the importation must be effected. When importation has been effected, the export authorization is returned to the government of the export- ing country, with an indorsement specifying the amount actually imported.
11. Article 13.-The sections referred to in paragraph 10 above also give full power to control exportation, and in practice the following rules are observed:-
(a) A separate export authorization is required for each exportation.
(b) The authorization states the quantity to be exported, the name and address
of the exporter, and the name and address of the importer.
(c) Before an export authorization is issued, an import certificate in the form annexed to the Convention is so far as possible, required. One case where this practice has to be varied is that of exportation to a British medical officer in China. In this case a certificate from the British Consul is required. It is obviously the best safeguard in the circum-
stances.
(d) The export authorization specifies the period within which the exportation must be effected, and it states the number and date of the import certi- ficate or equivalent document, and the authority by whom the import certificate or equivalent document has been issued.
(e) A copy of the export authorization is given to the exporter in order that it may accompany the consignment, another copy is sent to the govern- ment of the importing country, or to the British Consular officer con- cerned, as the case may be.
12. Article 14.-This article has no application in Hong Kong.
13. Article 15.-Section 3 of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 6 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928, which is based on section 4 of the Opium Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 2 of the Opium Amend- ment Ordinance, 1924, gives as full control as possible over dangerous drugs and coca leaves passing through the Colony in transit by water. Section 6 (1) of the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 8 of the Dangerous Drugs Amendment Ordinance, 1928, which corresponds to section 5 of the Opium Ordinance, 1923, as enacted by section 2 of the Opium Amendment Ordinance, 1924, places the granting or refusal of any licence or authorization under the Ordinance, and the revocation of any such licence or authorization, in the absolute discretion of the Superintendent of Imports
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