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(vi). The Merchant Shipping Ordinance requires amendment to permit of the engagement and discharge of, and payment of wages to, seamen in the form and manner provided by the Merchant Ship- ping Acts.
(d). The method of measurement of River Steamers for passenger certificates.
(i). River steamers are measured for passenger accommodation in accordance with Ordinance No. 10 of 1899, section 38, which authorises the issue of a "special licence" under the regulations contained in Table F. This "special licence" is in all essentials a passenger certificate.
(2). The existing Hong Kong regulations are far too brief to be of any real value and difficulty is experienced in applying Board of Trade regulations as these are not designed to cater for ships carrying large numbers of Asiatic passengers on short runs. (i). A comparison was made of the numbers of passengers that would be allowed under the existing Hong Kong regulations, the Board of Trade regulations for St. 4. ships and proposed regula- tions drawn up by officers of the Government Marine Surveyor's Sub-Department. (vide Appendix IV). A memorandum has been prepared embodying the essentials of each method of measure- ment which it is suggested should be adopted in the revision of Table F. (vide Appendix V).
(e). The carriage of large numbers of free passengers as commission agents.
(1). These people are principally carried in the smaller West River steamers with the cognisance of the owners. The majority of them act as touts for passengers and cargo whilst others are live stock coolies, hawkers etc. They pay no fare and invariably carry a small amount of cargo (sometimes dutiable) for their own account. Provided that their number does not result in an excess of the number of passengers allowed by the ship's passenger cer- tificate and their activities are profitable to the owners, we are unable to recommend any effective method of regulating the car- riage of such passengers; though it is considered that, from an administrative point of view, their elimination would be desirable.
(f). The system of embarkation of passengers and loading of cargo.
(i). Passengers are embarked at any time the ship is alongside and no system is maitained in the majority of river steamers but, with inadequate pier accommodation and easy access from sam- pans, supervision is difficult, passengers and cargo being embark- ed at the same time. Difficulty is experienced in handling and stowing cargo under these conditions and ships frequently leave with passengers and cargo adiscriminately on the main decks and in the holds.
(ii). This could be obviated by the introduction of the regulations sug- gested in paragraph 24 of this report in Ordinance No. 10 of 1899, Table F, making the carriage of passengers on the main deck conditional on the hatches being battened down and cargo only allowed on the main deck when properly secured.
(g). The employment of uncertificated pilots.
(i). Two pilots are generally carried and are usually men who have acquired some experience in piloting ships in the rivers. They have however no other qualifications and are not sufficiently re- liable to be regarded as officers a position they have often been known to assume.
(i). The extent of their authority depends upon the master and, whilst it might be desirable to accord official recognition to such