CO129-549-17 Harbour ferry- increase in estimate for improvements 20-8-1934 - 20-8-1934 — Page 13

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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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were in force on the 19th September, 1903, when the principal Ordinance came into operation.

8. On the 31st May, 1929, an International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and, on the 5th July, 1930, an Inter- national Load Line Convention were signed in London. To give effect to them, the Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Con- ventions) Act, 1932, was passed on the 17th March, 1932, which was brought into full operation on the 1st January, 1933, by an Order of His Majesty in Council under sections 39 and 67 dated the 10th November, 1932, published in the London Gazette of the 15th November, 1932.

9. In 1931 the Governments of Ceylon, Hong Kong, India, the Netherlands, the Netherlands East Indies, and the Straits Settle- ments, being satisfied that it would be impracticable to enforce compliance with the requirements of Chapters II and III of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1929, in the case of passenger ships engaged in the carriage of large numbers of unberthed Mohammedan pilgrims and other unberthed passengers to or from their countries and desiring to formulate general rules concerning Construction, Life Saving Appliances, etc., applicable to the particular circumstances of these trades in accordance with Article 4, paragraph 6 (b), and Article 12, paragraph 5 (d), of the said Convention, appointed delegates, who formulated the Simla Rules, 1931.

10. The Merchant Shipping (Safety and Load Line Con- ventions) Act, 1932, amends the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1928, and will be construed as one with them under the general title of the Merchant Shipping Acts, 1894 to 1932.

11. Part I of the Act of 1932, deals with Safety at Sea and by section 36 His Majesty may by Order in Council direct that the provisions of Part I of the Act and (so far as may appear expedient for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions of that Fart) the provisions of any other Act relating to Merchant Shipping, shall extend (inter alia) to any Colony, with such exceptions, adaptations or modifications (if any) as may be specified in the Order. Orders in Council under this section may direct that any provision of Part I of the Act, which is expressed to apply only to British ships or passenger steamers registered in the United Kingdom, shall apply to British ships or passenger steamers, as the case may be, registered in any country or part of His Majesty's dominions to which the provisions of Part I can be extended. These Orders in Council may also direct that any reference in Part I of the Act to a port in the United Kingdom shall be construed as including a reference to a port in any such country or part of His Majesty's dominions.

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