12071-1909-Bills-read-a-first-time--Public-Service-Transfer-of-Duties — Page 7

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JUNE 11, 1909.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance to amend The Prepared Opium

Ordinance 1891.

Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

struction.

1. This Ordinance may be cited as "The Prepared Short title Opium Amendment Ordinance 1909" and shall be and con- read and construed as one with The Prepared Opium Ordinance 1891 (hereinafter called "The Principal Ordinance") and with The Prepared Opium Amendment Ordinance 1906 and The Prepared Opium Amendment Ordinance 1908, and this Ordinance and the said Ordin- ances may be cited together as The Prepared Opium Ordinances 1891-1909”.

2. Section 2 of the Principal Ordinance is hereby Amendment amended :--

of section 2 of the l'rin-

(a.) by the insertion in the first line of the cipal Ordin- definition of “Opium Divan" of the word ance.

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"boat" between the words room and

"or";

(b.) by the deletion in the first line of (2) of the definition of "Opium Divan" of the words

by the public";

(e) by the deletion from the definition of

"Divan Farmer" of the following:-

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Divan Farmer" means the holder, if any, for the time being of the exclusive pri- vilege of opening, carrying on, or licensing any class of opium divans" in the first, second, and third lines;

*

or no divan farmer" in the fourth line;

or the divan farmer, or either of them'

in the ninth line.

(d.) by the addition of the following defini-

tions:--

"Importer" means and includes any person who brings or causes to be brought by land or sea any opium into the Colony, and the owner, part owner, mortgagee, and pledgee of any opium brought by land or sea into the Colony by such person, and any agent who has authority to transfer ownership or possession or holds documents of title to such opium ; but does not include any shipowner or other common carrier who carries opium in the ordinary course of business for the importer thereof.

In the foregoing definition of "Importer" the word "opium" includes compounds of opium and morphine.

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Divan Keeper" means and includes the occupier or person having the use temporarily of any Opium Divan, or any person having or appearing to have the care or management of such place and also any person who acts in any manner assisting in conducting the business of any such place or keeping watch in or about the same. 'Halan “

means the residuum produced by smoking dross opium.

3. Section 9 of the Principal Ordinance is hereby Importation, amended

(a.) by the repeal of sub-sections (1) and (2) and the substitution therefor of the following sub-sections :-

“(1.) It shall be lawful for the Opium Farmer, subject on each occasion to the consent of the Superintendent of Imports and Exports signified in writing under his hand having been previously obtained, to bring

possession, and export

of opium.

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