18. Power of authorized officers to enter and search, etc.
(1) An authorized officer may—
- (a) subject to section 19, enter and search any place; and
- (b) stop, board and search any vessel, aircraft or vehicle (other than a ship of war, military aircraft or military vehicle),
in which he reasonably suspects that there is—
- (i) any optical disc which has been manufactured in contravention of this Ordinance; or
- (ii) any machinery, equipment or other thing which may be or may contain, or which may likely be or contain, evidence of an offence under this Ordinance.
(2) An authorized officer may, in exercising his powers under subsection (1), seize, remove or detain—
- (a) any optical disc which appears to him to have been, or to be likely to have been, manufactured in contravention of this Ordinance; and
- (b) any machinery, equipment or other thing which appears to him to be or to contain, or to be likely to be or to contain, evidence of an offence under this Ordinance.
(3) An authorized officer may seize, remove or detain any vessel, aircraft or vehicle (other than a ship of war, military aircraft or military vehicle) which he is empowered by this section to stop, board and search and which he reasonably suspects is being used, or to have been used, in connection with an offence under this Ordinance.
(4) An authorized officer may—
- (a) break into and forcibly enter any place which he is empowered by this section to enter and search;
- (b) forcibly board any vessel, aircraft or vehicle which he is empowered by this section to stop, board and search;
- (c) remove by force any person or thing obstructing him in the exercise of any power conferred on him by this section;
- (d) detain any person found in any place which he is empowered by this section to enter and search until such place has been searched; and
- (e) prevent any person from approaching or boarding any vessel, aircraft or vehicle which he is empowered by this section to stop, board and search until it has been searched.
(5) Where it is not practicable to remove any machinery, equipment or other thing pursuant to subsection (2)(b), an authorized officer may seal the machinery, equipment or other thing or the place where it is kept so as to prevent its use without breaking the seal.
