THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 5TH DECEMBER, 1868.
حيم
Harbour-masters sufficient authority over Pilots to enable them, in the interest of the public, to ensure the efficiency of a set of men limited in rumber in their own interest, to continue in the hands of all Non- Chinese officials the rights and powers properly belonging to them under existing ex-territoriality condi- tions, and to leave it to the good sense of those most concerned-the Chambers representing mercantile communities, the Consuls, and the Harbour-masters-to act in concert, and-draw up and enforce, for each Port, such special Bye-laws as circumstances may most require. The disappearance of the obligatory clause has freed the Customs' authorities from the more serious responsibilities connected with the thorough effi- ciency of a Pilotage service; the public will, however, in its own interests, be not unlikely to adopt non- official measures quite as well calculated to secure the same ends.
I have also the honour to forward copy of a return, recently drawn up, showing the number of vessels that visited the Treaty Ports during the year ending 30th June last, their tonnage, the tonnage dues paid by them, and the number of Pilots holding licences on that day.
I trust that the Pilotage Regulations, in their amended form, will be accepted by Your Excellency; and that the spirit in which they are conceived will not fail to be noticed and appreciated; and I venture to beg, in conclusion, that Your Excellency will request the Consuls at the various Ports to give an effective support to the Harbour-masters in the performance of their duties, and in the management of matters con- nected with the inner and outer Pilotage and preservation of order among the shipping in Port.---I have &c.,
ROBERT HART,
Inspector-General of Chinese Maritime Customs,
His Excellency
Sir RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, K.C.B.,
&c.,
&C.,
&c.
Inclusure 3.
483
CHINESE PILOTAGE SERVICE.
GENERAL REGULATIONS.
General Regulation.-I.
1. Bye-laws and Rules necessary for the better ordering of Pilotage matters at the Ports are to be 1.-Bye-Laws and drawn up by the Harbour Masters in consultation with the Consuls and Chambers of Commerce, with whom Local Rules. also it rests in the same way to fix the number of Pilots, Tariff of charges, and define the limits of the Pilotage ground.
2. The number of Pilots for the Port of
3. The Pilotage ground for the Port of
4. The Pilotage charges shall be as follows, viz:-
Steamers, or Sailing Vessels in tow, per foot. Sailing Vessels, per foot.....
General Regulation.—II,
shall be
shall be defined as follows, viz:-
The subjects, citizens or protegés of Treaty Powers shall, equally with Natives of China, and without II.-Pilots: indivi- distinction of nationality, be eligible for appointment when vacancies occur, by the Board of Appointment duals eligible. subject to the General Regulations now issued, and the Bye-laws to be under them enforced at the several Ports respectively.
General Regulation.—III.
The Board of Appointment shall consist of the Harbour Master as President, the (or a) Senior Pilot, III.—Board of Ap- and two persons whose names shall be drawn by lot, by the Harbour Master, from a list prepared and poinment: how to be published by the Harbour Master in consultation with the Consuls and Chambers of Commerce.
General Regulation.-IV.
constructed.
1. Whenever there may be a vacancy among the Pilots, it shall be duly notified in the local prints; IV.-Vacancies: how and eight days afterwards the Board of Appointment shall proceed to fill it up by a competitive examination, to be filled up.
2. The Board may refuse to admit to the examination any one, who, having once been a Licensed Pilot, has had his Licence withdrawn, and also any candidate who is unable to produce Consular certifi- cates as to character, &c.
3. The examination shall be public and gratuitous, and the vacancies shall be given to the most competent among the candidates without distinction of nationality, provided always the competency of the first on the list be not relative but absolute.
4. The Consul concerned may in person, or by deputy, be present and take part in the examination of candidates.
5. The majority of the votes of the Members of the Board shall decide the admission of candidates for Pilot Licences, each Member having one vote in the Ballot; but in the absence of the Consul concerned, the Harbour Master shall have a casting vote.
General Regulation.-_-_V.
1. Pilots' Licences shall be issued by the Commissioner of Customs in the name and on behalf of the v.-Pilot's Licence: Chinese Government. Licences issued to Pilots not being Natives of China shall subsequently be viséd by whom to be issued. and registered at the Consulate concerned.
2. On the 1st of July each year, every Pict shall pay the sum of Ten Haikuan Taels for the renewal
of his Licence.
3. Every Licensed Pilot shall be given a printed copy of the General Regulations and Local Rules, and shall produce the same, as well as his Licence, when required.
General Regulation.—VI.
1. It shall be allowable for each Licensed Pilot to take an Apprentice, for whom he shall be responsible. VI.-Apprentice Pi- On the application of Pilots, the Harbour Master will supply Apprentices with special certificates.
2. When the circumstances of the Port appear to demand it, the Harbour Master may authorise Apprentices to act temporarily, and within certain limits, as Pilos: provided they have received certificates of competency from the Board of Appointment.
General Regulation.-VII.
lots: how to be taken..
1. Licensed Pilots may carry on their business either singly or in companies. They must pay due VII.-Licensed Pi- respect to the wishes and instructions of the Harbour Master under whose orders and control they are lots: to whom subor- placed, and who is invested with power to suspend or dismiss, subject to an appeal to the Consul concerned, dinated: unlicensed
piloting, &c. When the Pilot is a Foreigner the appeal to be lodged within three days.