THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, SEPTEMBER 7, 1939. 935
No. 752.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S Department.
The following Order of His Majesty in Council is published for general information.
R. A. C. NORTH,
Colonial Secretary.
7th September, 1939,
AT THE COURT AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE,
THE 24TH DAY OF AUGUST, 1939.
PRESENT,
THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY IN COUNCIL.
WHEREAS a national emergency exists rendering it necessary to take steps for preserving and defending national interests:
AND WHEREAS the measures approved to be taken require the immediate employment of vessels for use as Transports and as Auxiliaries for the convenience of the Fleet and for other similar services, but owing to the urgency of the need it is impossible to delay the employment of such vessels until the terms of engagement have been mutually agreed upon:
NOW, THEREFORE, His Majesty is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:-
1. The Board of Trade may, by order under the hand of the President of the Board, or any secretary, under- secretary or assistant secretary of the Board, or under the hand of the Director of Sea Transport, or of any officer acting on his behalf, and the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty may, by warrant under the hand of their Secretary or under the hand of any Flag Officer of the Royal Navy holding any appointment under the Admiralty, requisition and take up for His Majesty's service any British ship or British vessel as defined in the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, wherever the ship or vessel may be, with the exception of any British ship or British vessel registered-
(i) in any Dominions within the meaning of the Statute of Westminster, 1931, except Newfoundland,
(ii) in any territory administered by His Majesty's Government in any of the Dominions aforesaid, or
(iii) in India or Burma,
for such period of time as may be necessary.
2. The owners of all ships and vessels requisitioned under this Order shall receive payment for their use and for services rendered during their employment in His Majesty's service, and compensation for loss or damage thereby occasioned either in accordance with terms to be arranged by mutual agreement between the Board of Trade or the Admiralty (as the case may be) and the owners, or, failing such agreement, in accordance with the award of a tribunal.
3. This Order shall come into force on the 24th day of August, 1939, and may be cited as the Requisitioning of Ships Order, 1939.
E. C. E. Lead bitter.