THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 12TH JANUARY, 1861.
5
came into force:-(some of which documents are not easily procurable by the parties intereste:1) it is therefore considered expedient by the Emigration Officer to publish in a condensed form the leading Rules in force in this Port relating to all Pri- vate Chinese Passenger Ships and Passengers, and as far as the provisions of the Imperial Act are concerned, to Ships chartered by a British Government Emigration Agent.
Any vessel clearing with more than 20 Asiatic Passengers, on any Voyage of more than 7 days duration, is a Chinese Passenger Ship" under the Act.
1.--The Ship laid on for passengers, the Master will notify the Emigration Officer by Letter of the fact, specifying the estimated number of passengers she can carry by Surveyor's Certificate, her destination, and the name of the Licensed Passage Broker employed.
Note. After which, the Emigration Officer will take an early opportunity to inspect Ship.
2.--When the full quantity of passengers' provisions is on board the Master shall notify the Einigration Officer of the fact, who will as soon as possible thereafter, go off and inspect them.
Note. The provisions must be all placed in the "Tween decks or on the Upper deck, and not be stowed away in the
Hold, until after inspection.
3.When the Ship is ready to receive the passengers on board the Passage Broker will bring a written notice to that effect from the Master, when a time will be fixed for the attendance of the passengers at this Office to have their contract pas- sage tickets explained and signed, in the presence of the Broker or his deputy.
Note This notice must be given at least 24 hours before the passengers appear at this Office, and on the same day the Master, with two approved sureties, will attend and execute the Bond under Section 4 of the Chinese Pas- senger Act 1855, and deposit the following documents :--
1.--Goverument Surveyor's Certificate of measurement and seaworthyness.
2.-Master's Certificate relative to Chinese Doctor (provided be fails in securing an
a reasonable remuneration.)
European Surgeon for
3.--Certificate under the Chop seals of two Chinese apothecary's Shops, vouching for competency of Doctor. 4.-Lis. of provisions and medicines, according to the scale laid down in the Act, signed by the Master. 5.-Certificate of a resident Physician that he has examined the medicines, that they are good, and in accordance with the requirements of the Act.
6.-Passenger List in duplicate, with a Summary attached, specifying the numbers respectively of, Pas- sengers under the Act, Cabin passengers, Crew, including Master and all persons on Ship's Articles; shewing total number of souls on board. Signed by Master.
Note. Chinese Cooks, Stewards, Interpreter, Doctor, &c., are invariably passengers, berthed and fed with the others, although horne by Law on the Ship's Articles, for purposes of discipline. In future, their names. with their rating on board, will appear at the end of the passenger lists, and they will be included in the pros number that the chip can carry, but numerically they will be entered, as heretofore, under the head of “Crew on Ship's Articles."" About 4 Cooks and Stewards to every 100 passengers has been the rule.
4.-Either at this time or after the passengers are collected on board they must be inspected individually by a resident Surgeon, who must also inspect the Crew and give his Certificate that none appear, by reason of any bodily or meutul disease, unfit to proceed, or likely to endanger the health or safety of other persons about to proceed, in such Vessel.
5.--The Juster will give notice when all the passengers are on board and when he wishes to clear for Sen.
Note. The Broker must personally assure himself that every passenger is on board and report to that effect, ofter which the Emigration Officer will proceed on board, muster and count the passengers, and make a fiuol insper- tion of the Ship.
After this is done, and not before, the Ship is at liberty to shift her berth, if it is desired; the Master mentioning the firt to the Harbor Master; who will then deliver to him his Emigration Papers and Port, . Clearance.
In the fitting up and equipment of Chinese Pas cnger Ships the following general Rules will obtain :- 1.--Ships with full compliment of passengers, shall carry boats according to the following seale, of size and description approved by the Emigration Oficer :-—
Less than 200 Tons Registered, 249 to 400
Boats
3
400
7)
690
„ 1,000
1,000 1,500
"
600
"}
13
1,500 and upwards
*"
1
6
7
Note.
In every case one boat must be a properly fitted Life boat, and oue a Long boat. 2.--Ships must carry at least 2 Life booys, shoug, prepared for sudden emergencies.
3.--In the absence of a Forsepatup and Hoso, reaching fore and aft, a Ship must be provided with not less than 3 dozen buckets, in case of fire,
4.--Every Hatchway leading into passengers' quarters must be covered by a well secured Honze about six feet high, having as much ventilation as is compatible with strength, and being water tight. The Hatches are not to be used during the voyage unless stress of weather demands it.
Note. When women are carried, they must have a separate hatchway entrance, apart from the Males; and
the Mule and Female quarters must be devided by a strong bulkhead with no door or aperture in it. quarters must be aft, as also the Water closets for their use.
The Female 5.--The Berths, Cooking cabooses, Water closets, &c., must be all properly secured; and the Master must provide himself with two or three spare rice boilers, as they are very little, and liable to accident.
G.-In the very important particular of ventilation, the Government Notification No. 51 of the 22nd April, 1856, is republished here, being not generally known.
No. 51.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
It is hereby notified for the information of Masters of Ships carrying Chinese Passongos, and unprovided with the improven Applian. eus useally found in Vessels of modern construction, and generally for the laformation of all interested, tius in addition to a Windshil for Very Hatchway, it is required that a constant supply of fresh air be ensured to the between decks in bad weather, by fitting, at cach end of the Space set apart for passengers, firo Funacle of wood or metal, Four in all, with moveable heads, in manner following, that is to say, -the body of the air Funnel to reach from underneath the lowermost deck overhead to a height of 3 er 4 feet above the uppermost deck, and to pass through holes gut for the purpose in either side of the deck, and made water-tight by a canvas coat or other suitable means.
The attention of the Emigration Officer has been called to the above regulation.
By Order,
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 22nd April, 1856.
W. T. MERCED, Colonial Secretary.