the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890 — Page 142

106 ORDINANCE No. 21 OF 1844 .


Salt, Opium Licensing &c.


No. 21 of 1844 .

Title. An Ordinance for licensing the Sale of Salt Opium Bhaang Ganja Paun
Betel and Betel -leaf within the Colony of Hongkong and for the
licensing of Pawnbrokers and Auctioneers with a Table of Fees on
Official Licences and Signatures .

[ 26th November , 1844. ]
Preamble. HEREAS it is expedient to raise such funds as may be necessary to defray the
W civil expenses of the Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies.

No person to act 1. Be it therefore enacted and ordained with a view to the part performance of
as weigher or
broker of salt or such object by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong with the advice of the
retail opium
bhaang ganja
paun betel or Legislative Council thereof : That no person shall within the said Island of Hongkong
betel-leaf
without a licence or its dependencies or the waters thereof carry on the trade or occupation of a weigher
for that purpose.
or broker of salt or sell or retail any opium bhaang ganja paun betel or betel -leaf in
a smaller quantity than one chest for consumption without having previously obtained
a licence for that purpose from the Governor for the time being in Council .
Power given to 2. And be it further enacted and ordained that it shall be lawful for the Governor
Governor in
Council to grant
such licences to for the time being in Council to grant by licence to one or more persons the exclusive
one or more
persons. right and privilege of exercising the trade or occupation of a broker or weigher of
salt and of selling or retailing opium bhaang ganja paun betel and betel-leaf for
consumption in any quantity less than one chest within the said Colony and its
dependencies and the waters thereof.

Licences how to 3. And be it further enacted and ordained that the said licence or licences shall
be granted.
be granted to the highest bidders to be ascertained either by public auction or by
tenders to be sent in, in pursuance of public notice to that effect, and on such conditions
relative to the giving of security for the payment of the sum tendered and for the
maintenance of good order and the prevention of riots or disturbances among the
persons engaged in the salt-trade or on the premises of persons retailing or selling
opium bhaang ganja paun betel and betel-leaf for consumption within the said Colony
of Hongkong or its dependencies or the waters thereof and subject to such other
regulations in all respects as from time to time to His Excellency the Governor with
the advice of the said Executive Council may seem fit.

Penalty for 4. And be it further enacted and ordained that if any person without having
weighing salt or
retailing opium obtained such licence as aforesaid or the permission or authority of the person so
bhaang ganja
pann betel and licensed as aforesaid shall exercise or carry on the trade or occupation of weighing
betel-leaf
contrary to law
and regulations . salt within the said Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies or the waters thereof
or shall sell or retail opium bhaang ganja paun betel and betel-leaf for consumption
in any quantity less than one chest or shall infringe any of the regulations from time
to time established by the Governor in Council under the authority of this Ordinance
he shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars to be recovered in
a summary manner before any Magistrate of Police and in default of the said penalty