58612-1918-Supplementary-Bills-read-a-first-time--Malay-States-Extradition-Ordinance-Repeal-Indecent-Exhibitions — Page 2

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5. On the 13th June, 1917, a further Order was made by which the States of Sarawak and Trengganu were added to the Schedule of the Straits Settlements and Protected States Fugitive Offenders Order in Coun- cil, 1916. This later Order in Council was intituled the Straits Settlements and Protected States Fugitive Offenders Order in Council, 1917. It was published in the London Gazette of the 15th June, 1917, and was reprinted in the Hongkong Gazette of the 3rd August, 1917. A notification bringing it into operation on the 1st July, 1917, was published in the London Gazette of the 26th June, 1917, and this notification was reprinted in the Hongkong Gazette of the 21st December, 1917. The result of this second Order in Council and notifica- tion is that the Hongkong Malay States Extradition Ordinance, 1903, is now rendered wholly unnecessary, and this bill therefore proposes to repeal it in toto.

J. H. Kemp,

Attorney General.

14th December, 1917.

A BILL

Short title.

Objection-

able exhibi- tions.

Objection- able publi- cations.

Certain advertise- ments declared

indecent.

52 & 53 Vict. c. 18, s. 5.

Penalties.

INTITULED

An Ordinance to prohibit exhibitions, publica- tions, and advertisements of an indecent, obscene, revolting, or offensive nature.

BE it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislativo Conneil thereof, as follows:-

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Indecent Exhibitions Ordinance, 1918.

2. No person shall, on payment or gratuitously, expose to public view in or near any public place, any written or printed matter, or any picture, figure, or other thing, or any exhibition,, which is of an indecent. obscene, revolting, or offensive nature.

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3. No person shall publish in any newspaper, or by such or any other means distribute to the public, any matter which is of an indecent, obscene, revolting, or offensive nature.

4. Every advertisement whatsoever relating to syphi- lis, gonorrhoea, nervous debility, or other complaint or infirmity arising from or relating to sexual intercourse, shall for the purposes of this Ordinance be deemed to be matter of an indecent nature: Provided that this section shall not apply to any advertisement in any banâ fide medical newspaper, book, or other publication.

5. Every person who contravenes any of the pro- visions of this Ordinance shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars or to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months.

Objects and Reasons.

1. The object of this Ordinance is to suppress, inde- cent and objectionable exhibitions, publications, and advertisements.

2. Many such advertisements appear in the Chinese press and the evil appears to be growing. Attention has been drawn to this by members of the Chinese community. Such advertisements have recently been practically suppressed at Shanghai. Similarly objec- tionable advertisements are also shown on walls and in other public places.