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the Crown's servants which give rise to a civil remedy which is not an action of contract. It should be emphasized, how- ever, that this Ordinance only enables the Crown to be sued in respect of the Government of Hong Kong, and in relation to acts and omissions for which the Government of Hong Kong is responsible. It does not, for example, enable Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom to be sued, nor the Government of any Dominion or other Colonial territory.
Merchant Shipping. The Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Ordinance, No. 17, empowers the Governor to exempt any vessel from specified requirements of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1953, and of its subsidiary legislation. The Governor is also empowered to exempt certain ships from complying with the requirements as to the numbers of certified officers to be carried in accordance with the Merchant Shipping Ordinance. Before the enactment of this Amend- ment Ordinance the exempting authority was the Governor in Council; whereas now that the Governor alone is the exempting authority, it will be possible to deal with urgent applications for exemption more expeditiously, thereby avoiding the risk of financial loss to ship-owners, etc., in those cases where it is proper to allow a ship to proceed to sea without a properly certified master, mate or engineer.
Medical Registration. The Medical Registration Ordinance, No. 25, has repealed the Medical Registration Ordinance (Chapter 161), replacing it with a comprehensive Ordinance re-enacting in amended form the substantive provisions of the old Ordinance. This new Ordinance regulates the medical profession of the Colony, and its main object is to ensure that the people of Hong Kong are given the best possible medical service and one in which they can place complete confidence. To safeguard the public by ensuring that medical treatment by western methods is given only by those doctors whose professional knowledge is without question sufficient to enable them to practise without endangering the health