1901_TELEGRAPHIC_MESSAGES_ORDINANCE__1894 — Page 1

140

No. 3.]

THE ORDINANCES OF HONGKONG: [A.D. 1897

ORDINANCE No. 3 OF 1894.

~

A.D. 1894. AN ORDINANCE to secure in certain cases the Rights of Property in Telegraphic Messages and to prevent the Forgery and improper Disclosure of Telegrams.

Ordinance

No. 14 of 1894.

Short title.

Protection of certain tele- grams from publication

within certain periods.

Penalty on

[20th May, 1901

WHEREAS it is expedient to secure, in certain cases, the right

of property in telegraphic messages and to prevent the forgery

and improper disclosure of telegrams:

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

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Telegraphic Messages Ordinance 1894.

2. Whenever any message, transmitted by telegraph from any pla outside of this Colony, is received by any person, association, or com pany in this Colony, for the purpose of publication in any newspaper or, by printed circular or otherwise, to any limited number of persons members of or subscribers to any such association or company, no person, whether a member of or subscriber to such association or company or not, shall, without the consent in writing of such person, association, or company by whom such message has been received. print or publish in any newspaper, or in any letter or circular or other printed or written communication, such telegraphic message, or the substance thereof, or any extract therefrom, until after the expiration of a period of thirty-six hours from the time of the first publication of such message by the person, association, or company receiving the same: Provided always that such protected period shall not extend beyond forty-eight hours from the time of the first receipt in the Colony of such message: Provided, also, that the publication of similar message lawfully received in like manner by any other person, association, or company, by such other person, association, or company shall not be deemed or taken to be à publication of such first-mentioned message within this Ordinance.

3. Every person who prints or publishes or causes to be printed or person print published any matter contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance shall, on conviction before a Magistrate be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars for the first offence and to a penalty not exceeding one hundred and fifty dollars for the second and every subsequent

ing, etc., matter con- trary to the Ordinance.