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4. Steam-launches.
On the 31st December, 1928, there were 336 Steam-launches and 149 Motor Boats employed in the Harbour. Of these 418 were licensed for the conveyance of passengers, 31 steam-launches and 12 motor boats belonged to the Colonial Government, 3 steam launches and 1 motor boat belonged to the Imperial Government, and 15 steam launches and 5 motor boats to the Naval Authorities. In addition there were 42 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 1928, under Regulations, Section 37 of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, No. 10 of 1899.
Class I......... 54 licences
Class II......... 20
Class III...... 91
For incompetence or negligence in performing their duties :-
3 coxswains' certificates were cancelled.
707 engagements and 716 discharges of masters and engineers were recorded during the year.
5.-Emigration and Immigration.
257,162 emigrants left Hong Kong for various places during the year 1928 (285,593 in 1927). Of these 125,338 were carried in British ships and 131,824 in Foreign ships.
187,847 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 181,100 in 1927. Of these, 103,127 arrived in British ships and 84,720 in Foreign ships.
6.-Registry, etc., of Shipping.
During the year, 18 ships were registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, and 25 Certificates of Registry cancelled. 234 documents, etc., were dealt with in connection with the Act, the fees on which amounted to $2,440.00 as compared with $1,776.00 in 1927.