13. During the year 11 ships were registered under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Acts, and 13 Certificates of Registry cancelled. Details are shown in Tables XX and XXI. The fees collected amounted to $1,079 as compared with $1,657 in 1933.
14. 31,150 seamen were engaged, and 29,552 seamen discharged at the Mercantile Marine Office and on board ships during the year as compared with 31,405 engaged and 30,961 discharged in 1933.
15. 132 seamen were received and admitted to the Sailors' Home and Boarding Houses. Of these the following were repatriated as Distressed British Seamen, 16 to the United Kingdom, 67 to Calcutta, 18 to Colombo, two to Shanghai, four to Singapore, one to Malta; two were re-employed on ships being signed on articles and 22 obtained employment in the Colony.
16. $1,155.85 was expended by the Harbour Master on behalf of the Board of Trade in the relief of these distressed seamen.
17. The Mercantile Marine Assistance Fund Committee held ten meetings during the year, the first being held in March. Twenty-nine cases were investigated, permanent relief being granted in four cases and temporary relief in 11 cases. Three Europeans were repatriated to the United Kingdom, passages being provided for the voyage to London with the sum of £5 each for pocket money on landing. Two Asiatics were repatriated to Singapore, cash allowance for food en route being granted in each case. Five Europeans refused the offer of a passage to England and one died before a passage could be arranged. One Asiatic refused the offer of a passage to Singapore. The total sum expended for the year was $5,199.
18. A statement of the surveys and examinations carried out by the Government Marine Surveyor and his staff is set out in Table XXX. The vessels surveyed for Passenger Certificates totalled 123 of 470,644 tons gross as compared with 122 of 481,780 tons gross in 1933, showing an increase of one vessel, though a decrease of 11,136 tons.
19. 69 vessels were surveyed at Taikoo Docks, 37 at Kowloon Docks, one at W.S. Bailey's shipyard, and 15 at Chinese Slipways, one vessel being surveyed on acceptance of Board of Trade Bottom Certificate.
20. The following is a comparison of tonnage and nationalities of the various vessels granted Passenger Certificates at Hong Kong during the year 1934.
British 100 vessels of 421,227 tons (Gross). Norwegian 12 29,780 Danish 5 12,515 Chinese 6 7,122 Japanese 11