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4. Steam-launches.
On the 31st December, 1926, there were 463 Steam-launches (including 130 licensed motor boats) employed in the harbour. Of these 406 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, etc., 28 were the property of the Colonial Government, including 8 motor boats and 3 belonged to the Imperial Government, comprising 2 Steam-launches and 1 motor boat and 18 Naval (including 4 motor boats). In addition there were 30 motor boats privately owned for pleasure and private purposes.
New licence books for Steam Launches and Motor Boats were issued as follows in three classes during the year 1926, under Regulations, Section 37 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, No. 10 of 1899.
Class I......... 27 licences
Class II ......... 38
Class III ... 37
For incompetence or negligence in performing their duties:
4 coxswain's certificates were suspended for 12 months,
1 for 6 months, 5 for 3 months and 1 for 1 month.
1 certificate of Coxswain who had absconded was suspended
until he reports at harbour office for enquiry.
1 Engineer's certificate was suspended for 6 months.
691 engagements and 685 discharges of masters and engineers were recorded during the year.
5.—Emigration and Immigration.
216,527 emigrants left Hong Kong for various places during the year 1926 (140,534 in 1925). Of these 131,656 were carried in British ships and 84,871 in Foreign ships.
128,661 returning emigrants were reported to have been brought to Hong Kong from the several places to which they had emigrated either from this Colony or from Coast Ports, as against 91,622 in 1925. Of these, 76,147 arrived in British ships and 52,514 in Foreign ships.
6. Registry, etc., of Shipping.
During the year, 13 ships were registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, and 26 Certificates of Registry cancelled. 217 documents, etc., were dealt with in connection with the Act, the fees on which amounted to $1,634.00 as compared with $6,679.13 in 1925.