RICE ORDINANCE, 1919

RICE ORDINANCE, 1919

No. 20 of 1919.

*An Ordinance for the acquisition and disposal of rice by the
Hong Kong Government..
[19th September, 1910.]

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Rice Ordinance,
1919.

2. (1). The Governor may, at any time when he thinks fit,
and in time of peace as well 'as in time of war,' order the seizure
and taking possession of any rice within the limits of the Colony,
and may sell such rice for consumption in the Colony.

(2) The Governor shall, out of the public funds of the
Colony, pay to every person whose rice is taken by virtue. of
sub-section (i), such compensation as may be agreed on between
the Governor and such person, and in default of agreement, such
compensation as shall be awarded by a board constituted as
hereinafter mentioned whose award shall be final.

As amended by Law Rev. Ord., 1930, Supp. Sched.





(3) For the purpose of determining the amount of compen-
sation payable for any rice taken. under sub-section (i). the
Governor shall appoint, a board consisting of five persons,, of
whom one shall be a judge or stipendiary magistrate, two shall
be officers either in the Civil Government of the Colony or in
His Majesty's naval, military or air service, and the other two
shall be inhabitants of the Colony. 'All questions referred to
the said board shall in case of a difference of opinion be decided
.by the votes of the majority of the members. The judge or
stipendiary magistrate shall be the chairman of the board.

(4) The said board, in fixing the price to be paid for rice
taken under sub-section (i), shall not make any addition on
account of the purchase being compulsory.

(5) Every person who refuses or neglects to obey or comply
with any order made under this section or does anything whereby
the execution of any, such 'order is prevented or hindered, or with
intent to prevent or hinder the execution of any such order, shall
be guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.

3. If any person, by obeying any order made under section
2 (1), is prevented from fulfilling any contract, such person
shall not ' be deemed to have thereby committed a breach of
contract but such contract shall be deemed to be cancelled so far
as its fulfilment may be prevented by any such order.

4. The total proceeds of all sales of rice for consumption in
the Colony shall not recoup to the Government more than the
total cost of purchasing the same together with the expenses
incidental to such purchase and sale.

5. The Governor may from time to time and as often as
occasion may require by proclamation prescribe-

(a) the price for which rice of any particular standard
Government quality, as defined by section 6,

(b) the maximum price for which any particular quality of
rice, other than.a standard Governtrient quality,

may be sold by. retail in any particular district of the Colony,
and any'person who in breach of any such proclamation sells

As amended by Law'Rev. Ord., 1939, Supp. Sched.





any such standard Government quality of rice at a price other.
than the price so prescribed or sells any such other quality of
rice at a price higher than the maximum price so presdribed shall
be deemed guilty of an offence against this Ordinance.

6. The qualities of rid for which a. price is fixed in any
particular district of the Colony shall be determined by persons
to be appointed for the purpose by the Governor. Samples of
the qualities so determined shall be kept at all police station's and
shall be open to inspection. Such samples shall conform to
sealed samples kept in the offices of the Supe rintendent of
Imports and Exports and the District Officers, and such sealed
samples shall be known as standard Government qualities.

7. Every person who sells rice purporting to be of one of
the standard Government qualities which differs from such quality
to the prejudice of the purchaser shall be guilty of an offence
against this Ordinance.

8. Every. person -who sells any rice supplied by the Govern-
ment except under licence issued by an officer appointed by the
Governor for that purpose shall be guilty of offence against
this Ordinance.

9. No person who is authorized to sell rice supplied by the
Government shall mix one standard Government quality of such
rice with any other standard Government quality of such rice
or with any rice not supplied by the Government or with any
foreign substance.

10. Any person authorized by the Gove rnor in writing in
that behalf may enter upon and into any land, house or other
building in'the Colony for the purpose of inspecting the stock
of rice therein and oi taking, samples thereof, and in case of
opposition or obstruction may use force to effect such entry and
inspection, and shall not be liable for any da mage directly or
indirectly occasioned by such forcible entry.

11. Every person who is guilty of,an offence against this
Ordinance or of a breach of any of the provisions thereof shall
upon summary conviction be liable to a fine not exceeding five

As amended by Law Rev. Ord,, 1939, Supp. Sched.

hundred dollars or to imprisonment for Any term not exceeding
six months, and any rice in connexion with which any such
offence has been committed shall be forfeited.

12. All powers given by this Ordinance shall be in addition
to and not in, derogation of any Other powers conferred by or'
under any enactment, and all such powers may be exercised in
the same manner and by the same authority as if this Ordinance
hadpot been made.

13. It shall be lawful for the Legislative Council from time
to time and as often as occasion may require, to pass a resolution
suspending the operation of this Ordinance or of any section or
sections thereof either for a definite period or until the Legislative
Council makes a further resolution reviving the operation of this
Ordinance or of any section or section s.thereof.
[Originally No. 20 of 1919. Law Rev. Ord., 1939.] Short title. Power to Governor to seize and sell rice.* Payment of compensation. Board to fix compensation. No addition for compulsory purchase. Prohinition of non-compliance with order. Effect of direction or order on prior contracts.* Prohibition of profit by Government on total proceeds of sales of rice. Power to Governor to fix retail price of rice and prohibition of sale except at such price.* Determination of standard Government qualities of rice.* Prohibition of selling rice of inferior quality.* Prohibition of sale of Government rice.* Prohibition against mixing rice with other qualities or with foreign substance. Power of entry and inspection and taking samples.* Penalty.* Saving of other powers. Power to suspend or revive operation of Ordinance or part thereof.*

[Originally No. 20 of 1919. Law Rev. Ord., 1939.] Short title. Power to Governor to seize and sell rice.* Payment of compensation. Board to fix compensation. No addition for compulsory purchase. Prohinition of non-compliance with order. Effect of direction or order on prior contracts.* Prohibition of profit by Government on total proceeds of sales of rice. Power to Governor to fix retail price of rice and prohibition of sale except at such price.* Determination of standard Government qualities of rice.* Prohibition of selling rice of inferior quality.* Prohibition of sale of Government rice.* Prohibition against mixing rice with other qualities or with foreign substance. Power of entry and inspection and taking samples.* Penalty.* Saving of other powers. Power to suspend or revive operation of Ordinance or part thereof.*

https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1560

1937

v3

No. 20 of 1919

4