12
THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 19TH JANUARY, 1861.
NOTICE.
EMIGRATION OFFICE, HONGKONG, 26th December, 1860. Whereas much ignorance prevails in this Port as to the Law and Regulations affecting Chinese Passenger Ships leading to perpetual reference, by Ship Masters and Merchants, to the Emigration Officer, for information on matters of ordinary detail and standing Rule: and whereas the Laws and Regulations alluded to are contained in various Imperial Acts, Local Ordinances and Proclamations and decisions of the Emigration Commissioners on matters arising out of the working of the system since it came into force:-(some of which documents are not easily procurable by the parties interested) 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.
"Chinese
Any vessel clearing with more than 20 Asiatic Passengers, on any Voyage of more than 7 days duration, is a Passenger Ship" under the Act.
1.--The hip 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 Emigration Officer of the fact, who will as soon as possible thereafter, go oil 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.-Government Surveyor's Certificate of measurement and seaworthyness.
2.—Master's Certificate relative to Chinese Doctor (provided he fails in securing an European Surgeon for a reasonable remuncration.)
3.--Certificate under the Chop seals of two Chinese apothecary's Shops, vouching for competency of Doctor. 4.--List 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 requircnents of the Act.
C.-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 borne 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 gross murber that the ship 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 inental disease, unfit to proceed, or likely to endanger the health or safety of other persons about to proceed, in such Vessel.
5. The Master will give notice when all the assengers are on board and when he wishes to clear for Se.
Note. The Broker must personally assure himself that every passenger is on board and report to that effect, after which the Emigration Officer wii proceed on board, muster and count the passengers, and make a final inspec- 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 fact to the Harbor Master; who will then deliver to him his Emigration Papers and Port Clearance.
In the fitting up and equipment of Chinese T'assenger Ships the following general Rules will obtain :- 1.---Ships with full compliment of passengers, shall carry boats according to the following scale, of size and description approved by the Emigration Officer :-
Less than 200 Tons Registered,
200 to 400
"
600 1,000
400
600
>>
1,000
1,500
1,500 and upwards
"
"
"
""
Boats
2
3
6
7
Note. In every case one boat must be a properly fitted Life boat, and one a Long boat. 2.-Ships must carry at least 2 Life buoys, slung, prepared for sudden emergencies.
3.In the absence of a Forcepump and Hose, 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 House about sixfeet 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 Male and Female quarters must be devided by a strong bulkhead with no door or aperture in it. The Female quarters must be aft, as also the Water closets for their use.
5.-The Berths, Cooking cabooses, Water closets, &c., must be all properly secured; and the Master must provide himself with two or tluce spare rice boilers, as they are very brittle, and liable to accident.
6-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 Passengers, and unprovided with the improved Applian- ces usually found in Vessels of modern construction, and generally for the informaation of all interested, that in addition to a Windsail for every Hatchway, it is required that a constant supply of fresh air be ensured to the between decks in bad weather, by fitting, at each end