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desirable that he be suspended temporarily
service on, .or should cease to serve on, such
ships, whether or not such misconduct consti-
tuted an offence, and, if the misconduct did
constitute an offence, whether or not the
seaman has been convicted of such offence; or
m
(e) without reasonable excuse, the seaman has
failed to comply with any order, direction,
requirement or request made, given or issued
under or for the purposes of this Ordinance by
the Superintendent or any other public officer,
the Superintendent may
(i) suspend the seaman's registration for any period,
not exceeding, in the case of desertion, twenty-
four months or, in any other case, twelve
months; or
(ii) suspend the seaman's registration and
forthwith refer the case to the Authority.
(1A) The period during which the seaman's registra-
tion is suspended under paragraph (i) of subsection (1)
shall begin to run from the date when the seaman first
appears before the Superintendent for the purpose of
making representation in the matter after he has been
served with a notice under subsection (2) of section 17A
or under subsection (1) of section 19.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the Superinten-
dent may in any case, in lieu of exercising any of the p
powers conferred on him by that subsection, issue the
seaman with a caution in writing to be of good behaviour