the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890 — Page 154

118 ORDINANCE No. 5 OF 1845 .


Salt and Opium.


barter, sell, or retail any opium in a smaller quantity than one chest, or barter, sell ,
or retail bhaang, ganja, paun, betel, and betel-leaf in any less quantity than may
hereafter be determined in manner hereinafter mentioned, without having previously
obtained a licence for that purpose from the Governor for the time being in the
Executive Council.
Powers of the 2. And be it further enacted and ordained , that it shall be lawful for the said
Governor with
respect to the
granting of such Governor for the time being in said Executive Council to grant by licence to one or
licences.
more persons the exclusive right and privilege of exercising the trade or occupation
of a broker or weigher of salt, or of selling or retailing opium in any quantity less
than one chest, and of selling and retailing bhaang, ganja, paun , betel, and betel-leaf
in any quantity less than that which may be determined on from time to time
hereafter by the said Governor, with the advice of the said Council within the Colony
of Hongkong and its dependencies, and the waters thereof.

Provisions re 3. And be it further enacted and ordained, that the said licence or licences
specting the
granting of such shall be granted to the highest bidders for the same respectively, to be ascertained by
licences.
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, under
such licence or licences, 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.

Penalties impo 4. And be it further enacted and ordained, that if any person , without having
sed on unlicensed
dealers. obtained such licence as aforesaid , shall exercise or carry on the trade or occupation
of weighing salt within the said Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies , or the
waters thereof, or shall sell, barter, or retail opium in any quantity less than one
chest, or sell, barter, or retail bhaang, ganja, paun, betel, and betel-leaf, in any
quantity less than may be so determined on in Council as aforesaid, or shall infringe
any of the regulations after public notice thereof, from time to time to be 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 being duly paid
after conviction, the same shall be levied by distress and sale of the offender's goods
and chattels ; and if there be no sufficient distress, every such offender shall be liable
to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six calendar months.

Power reserved 5. And be it further enacted and ordained, that it shall and may be lawful to
to the Governor
in Council to and for the said Governor in Council from time to time to make such further
make further
regulations
from time to regulations or orders as to him shall seem fit, respecting the weighing or brokerage
time.
of salt, or the sale of opium, bhaang, ganja, paun, betel, and betel-leaf, with the power