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THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, JUNE 27, 1930.

Protection

from discovery.

is recoverable and to be paid into the Treasury. When any such certificate bears the same number or mark as a sealed packet produced by the prosecution at the hearing, it shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed that such certificate relates to the

contents of such packet.

or

50. Except as hereinafter mentioned, no informa- of informers tion laid under this Ordinance shall be admitted in

evidence in

civil any

criminal proceeding whatsoever and to witness shall be obliged or per- mitted to disclose the name or address of any informer under this Ordinance or state any matter which might lead to his discovery. Moreover, if any books, documents or papers which are in evidence or liable to inspection in any civil or criminal proceeding whatsoever contain any entry in which any informer is named or described or which might lead to his discovery, the court shall cause all such passages to be conconled from view or to be obliterated so far as may be necessary to protect the informer from discovery but no further. But if on the trial of any offence under this Ordinance the magistrate after full inquiry into the Case believes that the informer wilfully made in his information a material statement which he knew or believed to be false or did not believe to be true or if in any other proceeding the magistrate is of opinion that justice cannot be fully done between the parties thereto without the discovery of the informer, it shall be lawful for the magistrate to require the production of the original information and permit inquiry and require full disclosure con- cerning the informer.

Half of fine may be

awarded to informer.

Respon- sibility for acts of agents and servants.

Service on body cor- porate or firm.

Incorrect Statements

etc.

51. The magistrate may, on the application of the Superintendent, award to an informer any portion of any fine imposed under this Ordinance not exceeding one-half.

52. Every licensee under this Ordinance and the holder of every permit under this Ordinance shall, without prejudice to the liability of any other person, be liable criminally for the acts and omissions of his agents and servants in respect of any offence against this Ordinance, and if such licensee or such permit- holder is himself an agent or servant of a company or firm and the licence or permit has been granted wholly or partly for the benefit of such company or firm, he shall, without prejudice to the liability of any other person, be liable criminally for the acts and omissions of the agents and servants of such company or firm in respect of any offence against this Ordinance Provided that no person shall be sentenced to imprisonment by virtue only of the provisions of this section.

53.-(1) A summons may be served on a body corporate or a firm by leaving a copy thereof with an adult at the last-known address of the body corporate or firm, and if the body corporate or firm does not appear in answer to such summons the magistrate may proceed ex parte.

(2) In answer to such summons, a body corporate may appear by an officer of such body corporate and a firm may appear by a partner or a responsible representative of such firm.

Offences, penalties and forfeitures. 54.-(1) No person shall make any incorrect state- ment or declaration or apply any incorrect description or supply any incorrect particulars in any document made or furnished for the purposes of this Ordinance or in connection with any application for any draw- back or for any licence or permit to be issued under this Ordinance.

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