226585-1936-Ordinances-passed-and-assented-to--Buildings-Amendment-No-19-of-1936--Counterfeit-Currency-Convention-No-20-of-1936-Midwives-Amendment-No-21-of-1936-Asylums-No-22-o-1936 — Page 9

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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, MAY 15, 1936.

Medical

certificate

counter-

signed by magistrate to be a

valid order for detention

in an asylum.

Extension of period of

detention for observation.

Removal of patient in hospital to asylum.

Medical practitioners

Every such certificate when so countersigned shall constitute a valid order of such magistrate for the detention in an asylum of the person named therein as being of unsound mind. Thereupon he may be detained in any asylum until released by order of the Governor or until discharged upon the authority of the medical practitioner in charge of such asylum, or until he is otherwise released in due course of law: Provided that the certificate required by this section shall not be countersigned by such magistrate unless it is established to his satisfaction that neither of the medical practitioners signing such certificate is the husband or wife or a near relative, or a partner, or an assistant, of the person to whom it refers.

10. If while a person is lawfully under detention in an asylum for the purpose of observation, two medical prac- titioners certify in the prescribed form that it is necessary to detain such person in the asylum for a further period for the purpose of observation, and if such certificate is counter- signed by a magistrate or justice of the peace, it shall be lawful to detain such person in the asylum for the purpose of observation for the further period specified in such certi- ficate: Provided that no such extension shall be for a longer period than seven days and that not more than two such extensions shall be lawful: Provided also that if before the end of any such extension two medical practitioners shall be of opinion that the person in question is of unsound mind, the procedure laid down in section 9 shall be followed as if the said medical practitioners had formed such opinion during the initial period of detention.

11.-(1) If in the opinion of the senior medical officer for the time being present in, and on the staff of, any hospital, any patient in such hospital shows symptoms of suffering from delirium tremens, it shall be lawful for such medical officer, if he considers it desirable, to order such patient to be removed to an asylum, for the purpose of de- tention and observation during a period of seven days from and including the date of the order.

(2) This section shall only apply where the medical officer in question is or is deemed to be a registered medical practitioner.

(3) Any order for the removal of such a patient shall be in the prescribed form.

12. Nothing in this Ordinance shall prevent a medical may deliver practitioner in charge of an asylum from delivering any person detained therein under the provisions of this Ordin- ance to the care of any party or parties to whom in his opinion it is expedient to deliver such person.

persons of unsound mind to persons for custody.

Appeal.

Limitation of action.

13. Every order of a magistrate made under sections 9, 10 or 16 shall be subject to an appeal by or on behalf of the person ordered to be detained thereunder to a judge sitting in court or in chambers.

14. No action shall be brought against any medical practitioner or officer of police or against any person whom- soever for anything done in good faith and with reasonable cause in pursuance of the powers conferred by this Ordin-

ance.