74
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 23RD FEBRUARY, 1878.
Between the 1st of June, and the 14th of October, inclusive:--
3. The space to be provided in the between decks shall be in accordance with the first paragraph of this table, but no ship shall carry upper deck passengers unless she is furnished with a deck house or other permanent protection against the weather for the number of passengers such structure will accommodate at 12 superficial feet and 72 cubic feet per adult passenger,
Generally.
Passengers are not to be carried on more than two decks on any one voyage. The superficial area of a deck shall mean the area of the deck itself exclusive of skylights, hatchways and other encumbrances.
TABLE (B.)
I. The owner of any steam-vessel of less than fifty tons burden desirous of obtaining a licence to carry passengers for hire within the waters of the Colony, or to any place outside of the waters of the Colony, shall cause the said vessel to be surveyed by a Surveyor or Surveyors appointed by the Governor.
II. The certificate of the Surveyor, appointed for this purpose, shall contain statements of the following particulars:—
a. That the hull, length-breadth--depth-
for the service intended, and in good condition.
tons, is sufficient
b. The number of passengers which the vessel is fit to carry, being, for vessels plying beyond the waters of the Colony, at the rate of ten superficial feet of the upper or weather deck, and at the rate of ten superficial feet of the deck immediately below the upper deck, for each passenger and member of the crew; and for vessels plying within the waters of the Colony, at the rate of seven superficial feet per passenger and member of the crew.
c. That the master possesses a certificate of competency from the Harbour
Master of Hongkong.
d. That provision is on board for the shelter of deck passengers, and that
there are two approved life buoys on board.
e. That the vessel carrying passengers outside the waters of the Colony has boats sufficient for the accommodation of half of the number of passen- gers and crew which the vessel is certified to carry.
f. That the vessel is properly fitted with bow and masthead lights and also a
riding light.
g. That the vessel is properly found with anchors and chains.
h. That the crew is sufficient for the requirements of the vessel in the
opinion of the Harbour Master.
III. The certificate of the Surveyor, appointed for this purpose, shall contain statements of the following particulars :---
a. That the machinery and boiler of the vessel are sufficient for the service intended, and in good condition, and that the safety valve is so construct- ed as to be out of the control of the engineer when the steam is up and is not loaded beyond the pressure permitted by the Engineer Surveyor's certificate.
b. The time for which such machinery will be sufficient.
e. That the engineer of the vessel possesses a certificate of competency from
the Harbour Master of Hongkong.
IV. Such certificates shall be in force for the period of six months.
V. On the receipt of the before-mentioned certificates, the Harbour Master will cause a licence to be issued to the owner or master empowering the therein des- cribed vessel to convey the number of passengers certified to on the Surveyor's declaration for a period not exceeding six months.
VI. Every vessel licensed under this Ordinance shall have her name in English and Chinese legibly painted on her stern and on each bow, together with the number of passengers she is licensed to carry.
VII. The Surveyor or Surveyors shall be entitled to a fee of ten dollars for the certificates of survey, recoverable from the owner of the vessel, to be divided equally between them if more than onc.
VIII. Vessels plying for hire within the waters of the Colony shall pay a licence fee at the rate of $5 per annum, and vessels plying for hire outside the waters of These fees shall the Colony shall pay a licence fee at the rate of $10 per annum. be payable for half-yearly.
·
Objects and Reasons.
The objects of this Ordinance sufficiently appear from its Title and Preamble.
The bulk of it is adapted from "The Merchant Shipping Acts," and a reference is given to the various sections of “The Merchant Shipping Act," in the marginal notes.
Ordinances 8 of 1875 and 11 of 1876 are also incorporated, with some alterations. The most important alteration is contained in section VI, by which power is given to The Governor in Council to grant special licences for River Steamers,
I do not think that the other alterations proposed call for any special remarks.
G. PHILLIPPO,
8th February, 1878.
Attorney General,
No. 37.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
The following Calendar of Grants of Probates during 1877, made under Ordinance No. 8 of 1860, is published for general information.
By Command,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 20th February, 1878.
J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.