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CHAPTER VII (L).
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II. RECOGNITION AND ENTRY OF H.M. SHIPS.
27. H.M. Ships to make the Secret Signal. The examination service does not in any way apply to H.M. ships and torpedo craft.
Any one of H.M. ships when approaching Hong Kong by day or night has instructions to make to one of the port war signal stations both the secret signal and the signal letters which have been allotted to her name, either with the international code flags or by Morse code, with the searchlight by day and flashing lamp at night.
Every commanding officer has instructions to be careful to avoid any movements likely to convey a hostile impression and is not to attempt to pass the port war signal stations or to enter the harbour until the port war signal station hoists the flags "TXA" (international code) ("proceed into harbour") by day or fires two rockets at night, indicating that the batteries have been informed of the identity of the ship and that she may proceed into harbour. The port war signal stations are :
Eastern Entrance.-Signal station at Cape D'Aguilar. Western Entrance.—(1.) Signal station at Victoria Peak.
(2.) Jubilee Signal Post used when (1) is
obscured by mist, &c.
28. Scouts, Destroyers, and Torpedo Boats.—Scouts, destroyers, and torpedo-boats approaching Hong Kong by day are to make the secret signal to one of the port war signal stations and are not to attempt to enter the harbour until they have established their identity and received the signal that they can proceed as described in the preceding paragraph.
They are not in any circumstances to attempt to approach the port at night or in foggy weather as they will be fired on.
29. The Fortress Commander is to assume that any vessel of war (except those mentioned in paragraph 33) approaching the port without communicating with the port war signal station is hostile.
30. Procedure at Night and during Foggy Weather.-At night or in foggy weather fire will be opened immediately upon any scouts, destroyers, or torpedo-boats sighted and upon any war vessels attempting to enter before receiving permission to proceed.
31. Notice of Arrival of H.M. Ships.-Officers commanding H.M. ships and squadrons are instructed to give notice beforehand when practicable by radio-telegraphy or otherwise of their intended time of arrival at Hong Kong to the Commodore, who will inform the Fortress Commander in order that the batteries may receive timely warning, and delay, as far as possible, be avoided.
III. RECOGNITION AND ENTRY OF NEUTRAL WAR VESSELS AND MERCHANT SHIPS.
Instructions for Examination Steamers and Examination Batteries.
32. Neutral War Vessels. It is highly improbable that any neutral war vessel would in war time approach a defended port without previous notification, or taking other precautions to warn the defence of her neutral character. Should she fail to do so, no blame could attach to a battery Commander for opening fire.
33. Neutral war vessels which have given previous notice of their intended arrival should be met, if necessary, by the examination steamer, and given the special signal for the day, as described in paragraph 35, for merchant vessels.
34. Procedure for Identification of Merchant Ships.--On a merchant vessel approaching the port, the examination steamer will close her, flying the international code pendant and the international code signal, in the signal book, "Stop instantly. If she is identified, which, if she is one of the vessels usually trading with the port, and
* See "Signal Letters of British Ships " (formerly the "British Code List").
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