328 THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, AUGUST 26, 1910.
DESPATCHES FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
No. 258.
CIRCULAR.
DOWNING STREET,
6th July, 1910.
SIR,I have the honour to transmit, for your information, copies of two Orders in Council of 11th June, 1910, made under Section 445 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, and Section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, respectively, exempting, on certain con- ditions, Dutch ships in ports of the United Kingdom from the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts relating to loadline and life-saving appliances on proof that they have com- plied with the Dutch regulations on these subjects.
I may add that the provisions of Netherlands law permit of the issue of special free- board certificates for timber-laden vessels, but the Netherlands Government have been informed that under no circumstances at present can these certificates be recognised in this country.
I have, &c.,
The Officer Administering the Government aj
Hongkong.
CREWE.
ORDER IN COUNCIL EXEMPTING NETHERLANDS SHIPS, COMPLYING WITH NETHERLANDS PROVISIONS, FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTIONS 427-431 OF THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT, 1894 (57-58 VICT. C. 60), AS TO LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES.
AT THE COURT AT SAINT JAMES'S,
THE 11TH DAY OF JUNE, 1910.
PRESENT,
THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL. THEREAS by Section 4 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1906, it is provided that Sections 427 to 431 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1891 (hereinafter called the Principal Act), relating to live-saving appliances shall, after the appointed day, apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships. Provided that His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that those provisions shall not apply to any ship of a foreign country in which the provisions in force relating to life-saving appliances appear to His Majesty to be as effective as the provisions of Part V. of the Principal Act, on proof that those provisions are complied with in the case of that ship:
And whereas by Section 5 of the said Act it is provided that the said appointed day shall be the first day of January, 1909, or such other day not being more than twelve months later, as the Board of Trade may appoint :
And whereas the Board of Trade have appointed the first day of October, 1909, to be the day after which the provisions of the l'rincipal Act relating to life-saving appliances should apply to all foreign ships while they are within any port of the United Kingdom as they apply to British ships:
And whereas it appears to His Majesty that the provisions in force in the Netherlands relating to life-saving appliances are as effective as the provisions of Part V. of the Principal
Act:
Now therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, is pleased to direct that the provisions of Sections 427 to 431 of the Principal Act shall not apply to any ship of the Netherlands while within any port of the United Kingdom, if it is proved that the aforesaid provisions in force in the Netherlands relating to life-saving appliances are complied with in the case of that ship.
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ALMERIC FITZROY.
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