MUSEUMS (URBAN COUNCIL) BY-LAWS

MUSEUMS (URBAN COUNCIL) BY-LAWS

MUSEUMS (URBAN COUNCIL) BY-LAWS

(Cap. 132, section 1051)*

[17 December 1971.]

1. These by-laws may be cited as the Museums (Urban
Council) By-laws.

1A. These by-laws apply to the Urban Council area only.

2. In these by-laws, unless the context otherwise requires-

'curator' means the curator of a museum;

.,staff ' means the curator, any assistant curator or any public officer
acting in a museum under the directions or on the instructions
of the curator.

3. (1) A museum shall be open to the public on such days
and during such hours as may be determined from time to time by
the Urban Council.

(2) Notice in the English and Chinese languages, stating the
days on which and the hours during which a museum shall be open
to the public shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the museum
and at the entrances thereto.

4. (1) No person shall copy or photograph in any manner
whatsoever any exhibit except in accordance with a permit granted
by the Authority.

(2) A permit granted under paragraph (1) shall be in such
form and subject to such conditions as may be specified by the
Authority.

5. (1) Every person carrying any umbrella, or bag, suitcase
or similar receptacle or, subject to paragraph (5), any walking stick
or cane, shall, on entering a museum, deposit it forthwith in a
cloakroom provided for that purpose.

(2) A receipt token shall be given to every person depositing
an article in accordance with paragraph (1).

(3) No liability for loss or damage to any article deposited in
accordance with paragraph (1) shall lie with the Government, the
Urban Council or the staff of the museum concerned.

These by-laws were made under the repealed Museums Ordinance (Cap. 230,
1971 Ed.) and, by virtue of section 36(1) of the Interpretation and General
Clauses Ordinance, continue to have the like effect as if they had been made
under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance.





(4) Any article which is deposited in accordance with para-
graph (1) and which is not claimed by the depositor thereof within
one month after it was so deposited may be sold or otherwise
disposed of in such manner as the curator thinks fit.
(5) Paragraph (1) shall not apply in any case where it appears
to a member of the staff that the assistance of a walking stick or cane
is required by any person suffering from a physical disability.

6. (1) A member of the staff may require any person to leave
a museum, or any part thereof, where-
(a)he has reasonable grounds to believe that such person has
committed an offence in the museum;
(b)such person appears to be under the influence of drink or
drugs;
(c)such person is found sleeping or committing any nuisance
in the museum;
(d)such person is using any part of a museum for a purpose
for which it is not intended;
(e) such person is offensively unclean in person or in dress;
(f) such person is indecently clad;
(g)such person is found in any part of a museum not open to
the public.

(2) Any person who refuses or fails to leave a museum, or any
part thereof, when required to do so under paragraph (1) may, at the
discretion of the curator, be removed from the museum.

(3) Any person who refuses or fails to leave a museum, or any
part thereof, when required to do so under paragraph (1) shall be
guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $500
and to imprisonment for 1 month.

7. (1) Any person who wilfully destroys or damages any
exhibit in a museum, or any part of a museum or any of its furniture
or fittings, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on
conviction to a fine of $500 and to imprisonment for 1 month.
(2) The curator may take all reasonable steps to prevent any
person from doing any act which, in the curator's opinion, may
cause the destruction of or damage to any exhibit in a museum or
any part of a museum or any its furniture or fittings.

8. Any person who in a museum wilfully obstructs any
member of the staff in the performance of his duties shall be guilty of
an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of $500 and to
imprisonment for 1 month.

9. No person shall-
(a)bring any animal belonging to him or under his custody or
control into a museum or permit any such animal to enter
or remain in a museum;





(b)smoke in a museum, other than in any part thereof where it
is indicated by notice that smoking is permitted;

(c) make use of any naked light in a museum;

(d) unless authorized by the curator to do so-
(i) enter any part of a museum which is closed to the
public;
(ii) handle, disturb or otherwise interfere with any
exhibit in a museum;
(iii) consume any form of food or drink in a museum,
other than in any part thereof set aside for such a purpose;
(iv) bring, or cause to be brought, into a museum any
vehicle or other form of conveyance;
(v) affix any poster, bill, placard or notice to or upon a
museum;
(vi) use in a museum any radio apparatus, record
player, tape recorder, musical instrument or other ap-
paratus which emits sounds;
(vii) use any flash-light or other lighting apparatus
within any part of a museum open to the public.

10. Any person who contravenes by-law 4(1), by-law 5(1) or
any provision of by-law 9 shall be guilty of an offence and shall be
liable on conviction to a fine of $ 100.

11. (1) Any person aggrieved by any decision, direction or
requirement made or given in accordance with these by-laws by a
member of the staff of a museum may appeal in writing therefrom to
the Urban Council.

(2) After considering representations made to it on an appeal
under paragraph (1), the Urban Council may confirm, vary or set
aside any such decision, direction or requirement.
L.N. 165/71. 10 of 1986. Citation. 10 of 1986, s. 32(2). Application. 10 of 1986, s. 32(2). Interpretation. Times when museums are open to public. Copying, etc., of exhibits. Articles to be deposited in cloakroom. Circumstances under which persons may be required to leave a museum. Wilful damage in a museum. Obstruction of staff. Prohibition of certain acts. Offences and penalties. Appeal to Urban Council.

L.N. 165/71. 10 of 1986. Citation. 10 of 1986, s. 32(2). Application. 10 of 1986, s. 32(2). Interpretation. Times when museums are open to public. Copying, etc., of exhibits. Articles to be deposited in cloakroom. Circumstances under which persons may be required to leave a museum. Wilful damage in a museum. Obstruction of staff. Prohibition of certain acts. Offences and penalties. Appeal to Urban Council.

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