5161-1906-Bills-read-a-first-time--Appropriation — Page 3

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, SEPT. 14, 1906.

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 Commeil thereof, as follows:---

1. This Ordinance may be cited as The Prepared Opium Short title Amendment Ordinance, 1906, and shall be read and con- and con- strued as one with The Prepared Opium Ordinance, 1891, struction, hereinafter called the Principal Ordinance.

2. Section 2 of the Principal Ordinauce shall be ameud- Amendment ed by the addition of the following definitions :---

of section 2

of the Prin cipal Ordin-

ance.

The expression compound of opium” means any Definitions substance, not coming within the above defini- of "com tion of prepared opium, which contains opium, pound of or any constituent or alkaloid thereof, however opium" and the original form of such opium may have been morphine”.

altered.

Morphine

includes morphia and all salts of

morphine and any solution or preparation con-

taining morphine.

to section 10

3. The proviso to section 10 of the Principal Ordinance. New proviso is hereby repealed and the following substituted therefor :--- substituted

Provided that no trader in opium shall be prevented for provis

from bonâ fide testing samples of opium of the Prin obtained in accordance with the provisions of cipal Orlin- any Ordinance for the time being in force ance. relating to raw opium and keeping the same

for the purposes of his trade, the burden of

proof whereof shall in each ease be upon any person alleging the same in his defence."

4. After section 12 of the Principal Ordinance the Conditional following shall be inserted :--

Compounds of Opium,

may

licence for importing

within the Colony.

&c., mor- 12a. (1.) It shall be lawful for the Governor-in-

phine and compounds Council to grant licences to such persous as of opium for he may think fit in such numbers as he may deem sale or use suitable and on such conditions as he consider proper for importing for sale or use within the Colony, preparing, manufacturing, or dealing in morphine and compounds of opium, and any person so importing, manufacturing, or dealing in morphine or any compound of opium without, such licence shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.

(2.) Any such licence may be revoked by the Governor-in-Council at his dis- cretion and without assigning cause. (3.) There shall be paid for each such licence an annual fee of twenty-five dollars which shall be awarded to the Opium Farmer.

(4.) If the holder of any such licence does not comply with the conditions” he shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.

126. Every importer whether for exportation from Declaration or for sale or use within the Colony of morphine of value on or any compound of opium shall on the import- importation. ation thereof truly declare before the Super- intendent of Imports and Exports the amount of morphine or opium contained therein and any such importer making a false declaration in this regard shall be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.

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