33112-1913-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time--Opium-Amendment — Page 7

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Ūbjects and Reasons,

The object of this Bill is to make various desirable amendments in the present law relative to Opium.

The commencement of the operation of the Ordinance is arranged by Section 2 not to take place until the termina- tion of the present agreement with the Opium Farmer.

The definition of Opium Divan is enlarged as the existing definition was found to be too narrow for practical purposes. Provision is made. for the appointment and regulation of general warehouses for the storage of Raw Opium;

The penalties for various infringements of the law are somewhat increased. The other amendments are introduced to enable more effective control by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports over the movements of Raw Opium in order that fuller effect may be given to the decisions of the Hague Opium Conference and to the agreements between Great Britain and China.

The export of Persian Opium to any port other than London or Formosa is prohibited.

The Bill also requires the Opium Farmer to give security for the good behaviour and integrity of his agents or servants and it empowers Revenue Officers to affect arrests without warrant in certain cases giving them some of the powers of the Police.

?

{

A BILL

ENTITLED

JOHN A. BUCKNILL, Attorney General.

Short title.

Repeal of section 85 of the Magistrates Ordinance,. 1890, and substitution

of new

section

therefor.

An Ordinance to amend the Magistrates Ordi-

nance, 1890.

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

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Magistrates Amendment Ordinance, 1913.

2. Section 85 of the Magistrates Ordinance, 1890, is hereby repealed and the following section substituted therefor

"85. Whenever any male offender is convicted by

a Magistrate

(a.) under the provisions of either section 44, or section. 45 of the Offences against the Persons Ordinance, 1865, or

(b.) under section 52 of the Offences against the Persons Ordinance, 1865, of com- mitting an act of gross indecency with another male person under the age of 13, or

(c.) under section 29 of the Larceny Ordi- nance, 1865, of stealing any ornament or other chattel from the person of any woman or child, or

(d.) under the provisions of either section 107 or section 108 of the Chinese Emigration Ordinance, 1889, or

(e.) under the provisions of section 7 of the Protection of Women and Girls Ordinance, 1897, or

(f) under the provisions of section 3 of the Stowaways Ordinance, 1903, or

(g.) under the provisions of section 8 of the Deportation Ordinance, 1912, in any case in which the person so convicted had been prior to his deportation

:

1

"