647896-1893-Bill-The-Morphine — Page 2

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 2ND SEPTEMBER, 1893.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance for the regulation of the consumption of Morphine and for the suppression of the pernicions practice of administering or injecting preparations of Morphine by unqualified persons.

W

HEREAS it is desirable to regulate the consumption

of Morphine in this Colony and to forbid the ad- ministration or injection of preparations of Morphine except in cases where such treatment has been prescribed by some duly qualified medical practitioner.

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

1. This Ordinance may be cited us The Morphine Ordinance, 1893.

2. For the purposes of this Ordinance, Morphine shall include Morphia and every preparation thereof.

3. Any person, not being a duly qualified medical practitioner, who shall administer by injection or otherwise any Morphine to any other person, except in cases where the same has been prescribed by some duly qualified medical practitioner, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars or to imprisonment with or without hard labour not exceeding

three months.

The onus of proving the exception shall lie on the person so administering the Morphine.

4. Any person, not being a duly qualified medical prac- titioner, who shall, except in cases where Morphine has been prescribed by some duly qualified medical practitioner, furnish Morphine or furnish a hypodermic syringe or other appliance for the injection of Morphine, to any person, except a duly qualified medical practitioner shall, on con- viction before a Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or to imprisonment with or without hard labour not exceeding three months.

The onus of proving the exception shall lie on the person furaishing Morphine or a hypodermic syringo or other ap- pliances as aforesaid.

5. Any person, not being a duly qualified medical prae- titioner or a chemist or druggist actually carrying on busi- ness as such, who shall have in his possession any Mor- phine or any preparation of Morphine shall on conviction before a Magistrate be liable to a fine not excceding one hundred dollars and, in default of payment, to imprison- ment with or without hard labour not exceeding three months. Provided that this section shall not apply to cases where Morphine has been prescribed by a duly qualified medical practitioner.

6. No prosecution shall be commenced under section 5 of this Ordinance without the fint of the Attorney General.

Freable.

Short title.

Interpreta Lion.

Aduinistra- tion of morphine forbidden in certain cases.

Onas of proof.

Furnishing morphine og appliances for injection,

Possession of Morphine.

Fiat of

Attorney General.

811

Reasons and Objects.

Large

There has recently sprung up in this Colony a pernicions practice of administering, by injection or otherwise, propar- ations of Morphine in cases where such treatment would not be proscribed by any duly qualified medical man. numbers of ignorant Chinese coolies are now habitually resorting to places recently opened where for a small charge they receive injections of Morphine administered by unqualified persons who thereby derive pecuniary profit. There is reason also to believe that preparations of Mor- phine in various forms are largely taken by persons in other ways than by injection and in cases where no duly qualified medical man would prescribe such treatment. The object of this Bill is to render such practices illegal, and to bring the possession, consumption and administration of Morphine under regulation.