631363-1899-Bills-read-a-first-time--Arms-and-Ammunition — Page 8

1826 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 25TH NOVEMBER, 1899.

It has been thought expedient to re-enact section 6 of Ordinance 8 of 1895 in a somewhat modified form so as to make the question whether a licence or export permit is required depend not upon the residence of the purchaser or the value of arms or ammunition sold, but upon the ques- tion whether the arms or ammunition are sold for use within the Colony or for export from the Colony.

It has been found by experience that purchasers and sellers of arms do not always export those arms by the vessel named in the export permit, but sometimes divert the arms to other secret purposes, and it has, therefore, been thought expedient to check this practice by the following new provisions :-

(1) By compelling a vendor of arms or ammunition for the purposes of export to procure a mate's receipt for them. (Clause 7.)

(2) By providing for the registration of places where arms or ammunition are stored or to be stored. (Clause 11.)

(3) By compelling dealers to keep a stock book and a sales book and by empowering the Police to inspect and compare these books. (Clauses 13, 14, and 15.)

(4) By rendering a purchaser of arms or ammunition, who supplies false particulars to a vendor liable to punishment. (Clause 17.)

The following very necessary new provisions are also included in this Bill, namely:-

(1) The prohibition of the movement of arms or am- munition within the Colony or the waters thereof (except for the purpose of export under an export permit) without a removal permit. (Clause 8);

(2) The prohibition of the storing of arms or amınu- nition except at the places registered for that purpose. (Clause 12);

(3) The prohibition against the importation of arms or ammunition except at the port of Victoria. (Clause 18);

(4) The labelling of arms and ammunition. (Clause

19);

(5) The power of the Police to open boxes or packages

(Clause 20);

(6) An extended power of forfeiting arms and ammu- nition in respect of which an offence has been committed (Clause 29); and

(7) An entirely new power of forfeiting arms and ammunition which are without any apparent owner. (Clause 30.)

Clause 11 of the Bill raises the annual licence fee of dealers in arms to $1,200 per year instead of $10 (except in the case of retail dealers for sporting purposes only who are to pay the same licence fee as heretofore), because it is thought that, in a responsible business like this, a substantial licence fec ought to be paid.

A very necessary proviso is introduced to the effect that artus or ammunition moved by land or water in the Colony should be enclosed in secure boxes and labelled (clause 19).

It may be mentioned that penalties for breaches of the law are in some instances rendered more severe, (comparé section 28 with section 2 of Ordinance 14 of 1895, and section 16 with sections 12 and 13 of Ordinance 8 of 1895).

In conclusion, it may be noted that officers of a foreign nation are restricted, if they have no licence, to the carriage of weapons of ceremony worn as part of their regular uni· form,, and that the privilege of carrying arms without a licence has been taken away from Common Jurors.

A case occurred in which a Common Juror abused that privilege.

HENRY E. POLLOCK,

Acting Attorney General.