CELLULOID AND CINEMATOGRAPH FILM ORDINANCE, 1923

CELLULOID AND CINEMATOGRAPH FILM ORDINANCE, 1923

No. 23 of 1923.
An Ordinance to male better provision for the prevention
of fire in premises where raw celluloid or cinematograph
film is stored or
[1st December, 1923.]

1. This Ordinance may 'be cited as the Celluloid and
Cinematograph Film Ordinance, 1923.

2. In this Ordinance,
(a) Celluloid includes the substances known as celluloid
and xylonite and other similar substances, containing nitrated
cellulose or other nitrated products.

(b) Cinematograph film means any film containing
celluloid which is intended for use in a cinematograph or
any similar apparatus.

(c) Raw celluloid means--

(i) celluloid which has not been subjected to any process
of manufacture; and

(ii) celluloid scrap or waste.

3.-(1) No -premises shall be used for any purpose to
which this Ordinance applies-

* As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1924.





(a) unless the occupier has furnished to the Captain
Superintendent of Police in writing a statement of his name,
the address of the premises, and the nature of the business
there carried on ;
(b) unless the preinises are provided with such means of
escape in case of fire as the Captain Superintendent of Police
may reasonably require, and such means of escape are main-
tained in good condition and free from obstruction;
(c) if the premises are situated underneath premises used
for residential purposes
(d) if the premises are so situated that a fire occurring
therein might interfere. with the means of escape from the
building of which they form part or from any adjoining.
building;

(e) where the premises form part of a building unless such
part either-
(i) is separated from any other part of the building by
fire-resisting partitions (Including fire-resisting ceilings and
floors) and fire-resisting self-closing doors; or
(ii) is so situated and constructed that a fire occurring
therein is not likely to spread to other parts of the building,
and its use for the purposes to which this Ordinance applies
is sanctioned in writing by the Captain Superintendent of
Police and any conditions attached to such sanction are Com-
plied with;
(f) unless the regulations set out in the Schedule are duly
observed ;
(g) unless any regulations are duly observed which may be
made by the Governor in Council under this Ordinance.

(2) In the case of premises used for any purpose to which
this Ordinance applies at the commencement of this Ordi-
nance, the provisions of this section requiring the occupier
to furnish a statement to the Captain Superintendent of
Police shall take effect at the expiration of two months after
the commencement of this Ordinance, and the provisions of
this section requiring means of escape in case of fire to be
provided shall not take effect until the expiration of such
period as may be reasonably necessary, for enabling the
occupier to comply with any requirements of the Captain
Superintendent of Police in that respect.





4.-(1) It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council-
(a) to make regulations with respect to the Lise of any
cinematograph or similar apparatus upon any premises used
for any purpose to which this Ordinance applies; and
(b) to modify or add to the regulations set out ill the
Schedule.
(2) All regulations made under this Ordinance shall be laid
OR the table of the Legislative Council at the first meeting
thereof held after the publication in the 0-azette of.the mak-
ing of such regulations, and if a, resolution is passed at the
first meeting of the Legislative Council held after such
regulations have been laid on the table of the said Council
resolving that any such regulation shall be rescinded, or
amended in any manlier whatsoever, the said regulation shall,
without prejudice to anything done thereunder, he deeined
to be rescinded, or amended, as the case inay be, as from the
date of publication in the Gazette of the passing of such
resolution.

5. The purposes to which this Ordinance applies are-
(1) the keeping or storing of raw celluloid-
(a) in quantities ekceedillg at any one time one hundred-
weight; or
(b) in smaller quantities miless kept (except when required
to be exposed for the purpose of the work carried on in the
premises) in a properly closed metal box or case; and
(.2) the keeping or storilicr Of cinematograph film-
(a) in quantities exceedlug at any one time twenty reels,
or eighty pounds in weight; or
(b) in smaller quantities unless each reel is kept (except
when required to be exposed for the purpose of the work
carried on in the premises) in a separate and properly closed
metal box or case.
Provided that-
(i) for the purposes of this Ordinance, cinematograph film
shall be deemed to be kept in any premises where it is tem-
porarily deposited for the purpose of examination, cleaning,
packing, re-winding or repair, but celluloid or cinematograph
film shall not be deemed to be kept or stored in any premises
where it is temporarily deposited whilst in the course of
delivery, conveyance or transport; and





(ii) the provisions of this Ordinance shall not apply to
premise., licensed in accordance with the provisions of the
Places of Public Entertainment Regulation Ordinance, 1919.

6.-(1) In the event of any contravention in or in connexion
with any premises of the foregoing provisions, of this Ordi-
nance, the occupier shall upon summary conviction be liable.
to a fine not exceeding five hundred dollars and, in the case
of -a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding one
hundred dollars for each day on which the offence is con-
tinued after conviction thereof.
(2) In the event of the contravention by any person
employed on any premises of any regulation contained in the
Schedule or of any regulation inade under this Ordinance, he
shall upon summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceed-
ing fifty dollars.
7.-(1) An officer duly authorised by the Captain Super-
intendent of Police may, at all reasonable times, enter and
inspect any preinises which are used, or which such officer
has reasonable cause to believe are used, wholly or in part
for any purpose to which this Ordinance applies.
(2) Every such officer as aforesaid shall be furnished with
a certificate of his authorisation by the Captain Superintend-
ent of Police and when visiting any such premises as
aforesaid shall, if so required, produce the said certificate to
the occupier of the premises.
8. An officer duly authorised by the Captain Superintend-
ent of Police may, at any time, take for analysis sufficient
samples of any material which he suspects to be or to contain
celluloid.

9. Every person who-
(1) refuses to permit any officer authorised under this
Ordinance to enter or inspect any premises; or
(2) hinders or obstructs any such officer in the execu-
tion of his duty under this Ordinance; or
(3) refuses to allow any officer to take samples in pursuance
of the provisions of section 8,
shall upon summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceed-
ing two hundred dollars.

* As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1924.





10.-(1) If any occupier of premises is prevented by any
agreement from carrying out any structural alterations which
are necessary to enable him to comply with the provisions of
this Ordinance, and is unable to obtain the consent to those
alterations of the person whose consent is necessary under
the agreement, he may apply, in accordance with rules of
court, to the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction, and
the court, after hearing the parties and any witnesses whom
they may desire to call, may make such an order setting
aside or modifying the terms of the agreement as the court
considers just and equitable in the circumstances of the case.

(2) Where in any premises any structural or other alter-
ations are required in order to comply with the provisions
of this Ordinance and the occupier alleges that the whole or
part of the expense of the alterations ought to be borne by
the owner, the occupier may apply, in accordance with rules
of court, to the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction,
and the court, after hearing the parties and any witnesses
whom, they may desire to call, may make such order con-
cerning the expenses or their apportionment as the court
considers just and 'equitable in the circumstances of the case,
regard being had to the terms of any contract between the
parties, or in the alternative the court may, at the request of
the occupier, determine the lease.
[s. 11, rep. Law Revision Ordinance, 1924.]

SCHEDULE. [ss. 3, 4 and 6.]

PART I
RAW CELLULOID STORES
The following regulation sball be observed in or in connexion with

premises where raw celluloid is kept or stored
All such celluloid shall be kept or stored in a fire-resisting store-room, and
subject to the regulations applying to such store-rooms.

PART II
PREMISES WHERE CINEMATOGRAPH FILM IS KEPT OR STORED.
The following regulations shall be observed in or in connexion with
premises where cinematograph film is kept, stored or manipulated

1. All stock except when actually being used or manipulated shall be kept
eitber in a fire-resisting, store-room. and subject to the regulations, applying
to such store-rooms, or in fire-resisting receptacles which shall not be used
for any other purpose and shall be plainly marked Film





2. Every reel of film shall, except when required to be exposed for-the
purposes of the work carried on in the premises, be kept in a separate and
properly closed metal box.

3. Not more than ten reels or forty pounds of film shall be exposed at any
one time.

4. The following provisions shall apply to every room used-
(1) for the storing, or
(2) for the examination, cleaning, packing, re-winding or repair of film:-
(a) the room shall be used for no other purpose;
(b) the room shall be kept properly ventilated ;
(c) adequate means of extinguishing fire, having regard to the amount of
film on the premises, shall be kept constantly provided and readily available;

(d) the furniture and apparatus shall be so arrauged as to afford free
egress to persons in the room in the event of. fire

(e) no open light or fire shall be allowed

(f) the fittings shall, so far is practicable, be of non-inflarnmable or
fire-resisting material

(g) the doors shall he self-closing, and shall, except in the case of sliding

doors, be soiconstructed as to open outwards
(h) no person shall smoke in or take matches into the room
(i) there shall be kept posted up in English and Chinese in large
characters in the room-
(i) a printed copy of Parts II aud III of this Schedule
(ii) full instructions as to the action to he taken in case of fire ; and
(iii) full directions as to the means of escape from the roorn in case of fire..

5. All celluloid waste and scrap on the premises shall be collected at
frequent intervals and placed either in a fire-resisting store-room, or in a
strong inctal receptacle fitted with a hinged lid and marked Celluloid
Waste.

PART III

FIRE-RESISTING STORE-ROOMS.

The following regulations shall apply to fire-resisting store-rooms

1. The store-room shall be constructed of fire-resisting material in such

manner as to prevent as far as is reasonabl practicable any fire occurring in

the store-room from spreading to other parts of the premises Or to other
premises, and any fire occurring outside the store-room from reaching the
contents thereof.

2. The store-room shall be properly ventilated.

3. The fittings of the store-room shall, so far as is practicable, be, of
non-inflammable, or fire-resisting material.


4. Adequate means of extinguishingbe kept constantly provided
and readily available.
5. No open light and no ineans of heating shall be allowed in the store-
room.
6. If electric light is used, all conductors and apparatus shall be so
constructed, installed, protected, worked and maintained as to prevent
danger. Vacuum-type lamps only shall he used, and shall. be in fixed
positions and fitted with substantial outer protecting globes.

7. No person shall smoke in or take matches into the store-room.

8. The doors of. the store-room shall be self-closing and shall be kept

securely locked, except when articles are being placed therein or removed
therefrom.
9. The store-room shall not be used for any purpose other than the
keeping of celluloid or cinematograph fibn, and shall he clearly marked
Celluloid or Film.
10. Not more than one ton of celluloid and not inore than five hundred
and sixty reels or one ton of cinematograph film shall be kept in one
store-room :
Provided that, where a store-rootu is divided into separate conipart-
ments by separate fire-resisting partitions without ativ openings therein,
each such compartment may, for the purposes of this provision, be regarded
is a separate store-room.
11. When both celluloid and cinematograph film are stored in one store-
room, the aggregate quantity therein shall, at no time, exceed one ton.
[Originally No. 23 of 1923. Law Rev. Ord., 1924.] Short title. Interpretation. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 9. General safety provisions. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 1 (1), (2). [s. 3 contd.] Schedule. Regulations. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s.1. (4). Schedule. Purpose to which the Ordinance applies. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 2. Ordinance No. 22 of 1919. Penalties for infringement of foregoing provisions. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 3. Schedule. Power of entry. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 5. Power to take samples. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 6. Obstruction of officers. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 7. Power of Supreme Court to modify agreements and to apportion expenses. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 8.

[Originally No. 23 of 1923. Law Rev. Ord., 1924.] Short title. Interpretation. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 9. General safety provisions. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 1 (1), (2). [s. 3 contd.] Schedule. Regulations. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s.1. (4). Schedule. Purpose to which the Ordinance applies. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 2. Ordinance No. 22 of 1919. Penalties for infringement of foregoing provisions. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 3. Schedule. Power of entry. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 5. Power to take samples. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 6. Obstruction of officers. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 7. Power of Supreme Court to modify agreements and to apportion expenses. 12 & 13 Geo. 5, c. 35, s. 8.

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