663658-1887-Legislative-Council-11th-March-1887 — Page 3

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH MARCH, 1887.

ABOLITION OF CORONER'S JURIES IN CERTAIN CASES-The Acting Attorney General that at the next meeting of Council he would move the following resolution:-

251

gave notice

Whereas the circumstances of this Colony do not require the enquiry into cases of sudden or violent death by a Coroner's Jury, and whereas no advantage is found to arise from such enquiries, be it resolved that it is expedient to introduce an Ordinance abolishing the Office of Coroner and providing for an enquiry into cases of sudden or violent death by a Police Magistrate without a Jury, and for the holding of Inquests by a Police Magistrate with a Jury on the bodies of persons who die in Gaol,

ADJOURNMENT. -The Council then adjourned until Friday, the 18th instant, at 4 P.M.

Read and confirmed, this 18th day of March, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH,

Clerk of Councils.

W. H. MARSH, Administering the Government.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 98.

The following Bills, which were read a first time at a Meeting of the Legislative Council held yesterday, are published for general information.

Council Chamber, Hongkong, 19th March, 1887.

ARATHOON SETH, Clerk of Councils.

A BILL

ENTITLED

An Ordinance for the better regulating of the

W

trade in Opium.

HEREAS t is expedient to regulate and control the movement of Raw Opium within the Colony and the waters thereof: Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. This Ordinance and the Opium Ordinance of 1884, hereinafter called the principal Ordinance, shall be construed together as one Ordinance to be called The Opium Ordi- nances 1884 and 1886.

2. Opium in this Ordinance means raw, crude, or un- prepared Opium.

Ches of Opium means the package, with the opium herein, such as is usually imported by merchants in the Colony.

Ship in this Ordinance and in the principal Ordirance shall be construed so as to include any steam vessel, junk, boat, sampan, or any kind of craft used for conveyance of persons or things by water. 3. No person shall bring into the Colony or the waters thereof or receive therein Opium except in whole chests, and no person shall be permitted to export from the Colony or its waters Opium except in whole chests.

4. No person except the Opium Farmer shall have in his possession or under his custody or control (Opinm in quantities less than one chest.

5. It shall be the duty of the Opium Farmer to keep a Register of the Opium supplied to him and give such details as to its disposal as the Governor may req aire.

6. Any person offending against the provisions of Sec- tions 3 and 4, shall, on conviction before a Magistrate, be liable to a fine not exceeding $1,000, and the forfeiture of the Opium, or in default imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding 3 months, or the Magis- trate may order a period of imprisonment with or without hard labour in lieu of a portion of the fine, provided the whole imprisonment do not exceed 6 months.

7. Every person importing into the Colony my Opium shall forthwith report the same to the Harbour Master giving the number of chests, and shall, before landing such Opium or any part thereof, send or cause to se sent to the Harbour Master a requisition in the form of Schedule A giving the particulars therein required, whereupon the

Construction.

Interpreta-

tion.

Import and

export of Opium except in whole chests prohi bited.

Prohibition

of small quantities.

Register of Particulars.

Penalties.

Import of Opfum in cheats.