ENG-1958 — Page 237

Chapter 12: Legislation

FORTY Ordinances were enacted during 1958. The greater part of these were amendment Ordinances.

Education. The Education (Amendment) Ordinance, No. 2, which is also dealt with in Chapter 8, made extensive amendments to the Colony's legislation relating to schools. In particular, new provisions have been made with the object of ensuring a reason- able standard of safety with respect to the structure of, and the danger of fire in, premises which are not constructed for use as schools but which are nevertheless permitted to be used for this purpose owing to the shortage in Hong Kong of premises speci- fically constructed for use as schools.

This Ordinance also contained numerous provisions designed to remedy weaknesses which had become apparent in the existing law. Merchandise Marks. The Merchandise Marks Ordinance (Chapter 41) (the principal Ordinance) has been amended so as to bring the Colony's legislation on this subject more closely into line with that of the United Kingdom. The principal objects of the Merchandise Marks (Amendment) Ordinance, No. 6, are as follows. First, to specify more clearly the defences which are available to a person charged with an offence under section 3 of the principal Ordinance, to increase substantially the penalties provided for a contravention of that section and to provide for the forfeiture of any goods by means of or in relation to which an offence against the principal Ordinance has been committed, whether or not any person has been convicted of the offence. Second, to extend to Hong Kong manufacturers the protection given by section 14 of the principal Ordinance to United Kingdom industry and, by an amendment based on section 3 of the Mer- chandise Marks Act, 1953, to extend to certification trade marks the provisions relating to the use of United Kingdom or Hong Kong trade marks on imported goods.

The University of Hong Kong. The University Ordinance, No. 13, repealed and replaced the existing University Ordinance