### Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance 《本地報刊註冊條例》

15. Vicarious responsibility of proprietor, printer, publisher and editor
On the trial of the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of any local newspaper, or the printer of any other document, for any offence in which an ingredient is the publication of matter contained in any issue of such local newspaper or in such document, the accused person shall be presumed to have published all matter contained in such issue or in such document, as the case may be, unless he proves that the publication was made without his authority, consent or knowledge, and that the publication did not arise from want of the due care or caution on his part.
(Replaced 57 of 1955 s. 3. Amended 15 of 1987 s. 11)

16. Service of process
Without prejudice to any other method of service, any process whatsoever, civil or criminal, addressed to the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of any local newspaper shall for all purposes be deemed to be duly served if left with some adult at or sent by registered post to the registered address of the office of the local newspaper.
(Amended 15 of 1987 s. 12)

17. Copies of local newspapers to be delivered to Registrar
(1) The publisher or, failing him, the printer of every local newspaper shall, on every day on which that local newspaper is published or on the day next following (other than a holiday), deliver or cause to be delivered to the Registrar a copy of that local newspaper and of every published second or other varied edition or impression thereof.
(2) The copy of every local newspaper delivered to the Registrar under subsection (1) shall bear the signature, full name and address of the printer or publisher thereof or the signature, full name and address of some other person appointed and authorized by that printer or publisher for that purpose and whose appointment and authority have been lodged with the Registrar.
(3) The Registrar shall keep in his possession the copy of every local newspaper delivered to him under subsection (1) for a period of not less than 6 months after which time he may destroy or otherwise dispose of that copy.
(Replaced 15 of 1987 s. 13)

### Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance 《本地報刊註冊條例》

17A. Evidence for civil or criminal proceedings
(1) Where any person requires a copy of a local newspaper delivered to the Registrar under section 17(1) to be produced in evidence in any civil or criminal proceedings, the Registrar shall cause the copy of that local newspaper to be produced in court at the expense of the person applying for it, or shall deliver the copy to that person taking reasonable security for its return.
(2) A copy of a local newspaper produced or delivered under subsection (1) shall be sufficient evidence of any matter or thing contained therein.
(3) Every proprietor, printer, publisher or editor of a copy of a local newspaper produced or delivered under subsection (1) shall be deemed to be the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor respectively of all local newspapers which are of the same title, purport or effect as the copy of the local newspaper so produced or delivered (any minor variations being disregarded) unless the proprietor, printer, publisher or editor proves that those local newspapers were not printed, published or editor by him or with his knowledge or consent.
(Added 15 of 1987 s. 13)

### Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance 《本地報刊註冊條例》

18. Regulations
The Chief Executive in Council may by regulation provide for— (Amended 34 of 1999 s. 3)
(a) the registration of local newspapers and news agencies and their proprietors, printers, publishers and editors and the keeping of registers for that purpose; (Replaced 15 of 1987 s. 14)
(b) the licensing of newspaper distributors upon such conditions as may be prescribed by regulation;
(c) the prohibition of the distribution of newspapers except by newspaper distributors licensed for that purpose;
(d) the regulation of the distribution with or in newspapers of documents not forming an integral part thereof;
(e) the supply by newspaper distributors to the Registrar of a copy of newspapers printed or produced outside Hong Kong;
(f) (Repealed 15 of 1987 s. 14)(g) the particulars to be furnished in connexion with registration or licensing, notification of any change in the required particulars and the manner in which and the conditions upon which effect may be given or refused to be given, to any such change;
(h) the manner in which the identity of the printer of any local newspaper or other printed document and the time of printing or publication shall be established, and in particular for the printing of the printer’s name and address on local newspapers and other printed documents;
(i) the prohibition of the editing, printing, publication, possession and distribution of local newspapers and other printed documents which do not comply with the requirements of any regulations made pursuant to this section;
(j) the retention by the printer of copies of local newspapers and other printed documents, the particulars to be inscribed on such retained copies and the production of retained copies to such persons as may be prescribed;
(k) (Repealed 15 of 1987 s. 14)(l) granting exemption from all or any of the provisions of this Ordinance or of any of the regulations made thereunder;
(m) fees;
(n) forms;
(o) anything which is by this Ordinance to be provided by regulation.
(Replaced 57 of 1955 s. 4. Amended 15 of 1987 s. 14)

19. Cessation of publication, etc.
If any local newspaper ceases publication, or any news agency ceases to issue bulletins, for a consecutive period of not less than 6 months, the registration thereof under any regulations for the time being in force shall be deemed to have lapsed.
(Added 57 of 1955 s. 5. Amended 15 of 1987 s. 15)

### Registration of Local Newspapers Ordinance 《本地報刊註冊條例》

20. Penalties
(1) Any person who commits an offence against this Ordinance shall be liable—
(a) on summary conviction to a fine at level 2 and to imprisonment for 1 year; and
(b) upon conviction on indictment to a fine at level 4 and to imprisonment for 3 years.
(2) Every printer or publisher of a local newspaper who contravenes the provisions of section 17 as to the delivery of copies of such local newspaper at the office of the Registrar shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine at level 1.
(Amended 15 of 1987 s. 16; E.R. 5 of 2021)

21. Amendment of Schedule
The Chief Executive in Council may, by notice published in the Gazette, amend the Schedule.
(Added 15 of 1987 s. 17. Amended 34 of 1999 s. 3)