958
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 31st OCTOBER, 1891.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 447.
The following Circular despatch, with its enclosure, is published.
By Command,
W. M. GOODMAN, Acting Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 31st October, 1891.
DOWNING STREET,
CIRCULAR.
31st August, 1891.
SIR,-With reference to my Circular despatch of the 25th of April, 1890, I have the honour to transmit herewith copies of an Order of the Queen in Council of the 9th of May last, issued in pur- suance of the Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869, revoking all previous Orders, and further amending and consolidating the Regulations now in force relating to Colonial Certificates of Competency; together with copies of the Instructions on the subject, issued by the Board of Trade to Officers in British Possessions abroad.
I have the honour to be,
Sir, Your most obedient,
The Officer Administering the Government of
HONGKONG.
humble Servant,
KNUTSFORD.
Board of TraDE,
Marine Department,
July 1891.
INSTRUCTIONS
TO
OFFICERS IN BRITISH POSSESSIONS ABROAD.
Merchant Shipping (Colonial) Act, 1869.
The annexed Order in Council, dated the 9th day of May 1891, revokes all Orders previously issued relating to Colonial Certificates of Competency, and further amends and consolidates all the regulations now in force relating to their use, issue, delivery, cancellation, and suspension.
As the Colonial Certificates of Competency referred to in the said. Order in Council are to have the same force as the similar Certificates granted by the Board of Trade in the United Kingdom, such a Colonial Certificate must be accepted as occupying in every respect the place of one of the latter, and as entitling its bonâ fide holder to act in the capacity stated in it, or any inferior (but not a supe- rior) capacity in any British ship, all over the world without the possession of a Board of Trade Certificate.
Colonial Certificates will have to be used, produced, and delivered at the times and on the occa- sions at and on which Certificates of Competency granted by the Board of Trade would have to be used, produced, and delivered.
When it appears from a Certificate officially produced to the Officer that its owner possesses other Certificates, their production also should be required, and if they are not produced their owner's explanation in writing should be demanded and forwarded to the Registrar-General of Seamen with the least possible delay.
Officers in British Possessions abroad are empowered by Regulation 10 attached to the Order in Council to demand, and if necessary detain, any such Colonial Certificate which they have reason to believe has been improperly issued, or has been forged, altered, cancelled, suspended, or to which the person using it is not justly entitled.
Whenever this power is exercised a report of the facts and circumstances must be sent by the Officer, with the least possible delay, to either the Board of Trade or the Government of the Possession in which the Certificate was originally granted or may purport to have been granted, accordingly as communication may be easier and quicker.