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CHAPTER VI.
On Penalties.
105
Article 20th. The departure of the steamer shall take place on
the days and at the time given on the itinerary fixed by the Consul.
Any delay in the time of departure, except in the case of impossibilities duly ascertained, and the case where the ship should have been detained by order of the administration, renders the contrac- tor liable to a fine of ten francs per hour. After twelve consecutive hours of delay, not justi- fied, the fine will be increased to 20 francs per hour. Should it be proved that the delay has been caused by late shipment of cargo the fine will be doubled.
Article 21st. In case the delay should exceed twenty-four hours,
the Government Commissioner, his substitute, or the Consul for France would take, after hearing the contractor, necessary steps to ensure the transport of the rail, and expenses incurred by taking such steps to be paid by the contractor. When from any cause imputable to the contractor, the ship leaves without taking the mail, the subsi- dy shall be reduced in proportion with the number of leagues steamed over without mail on board.
Article 22nd. : When a mail bag has been forgotten, the contractor
should be liable to a fine of twenty francs.
Article 23rd. : The loss of a mail bag shall be punished by a fine
of fifty francs, the contractor being besides, held responsible for the indemnities to be paid in consequence, by the administration of posts to the parties concerned.
Article 24th. : In case the annual average speed stipulated for
bas not been attained on the line Canton-Hongkong, the contractor should be liable out of the amount of the subsidy to a deduction calculated on the fol lowing basis 14% for half a knot, and 3% for a #not. Over one knot, the contractor could be obliged to replace the ship; he would be granted one year delay to effect the change. The cases of impossibilities duly established, will of course be taken into consideration in the application of the fine stated in the present article.
Article 25th. : The amount of fines and deductions calculated in
accordance with the provisions of the above
articles