Directory_and_Chronicle_1864 — Page 376

CHINESE PASSENGERS ACT.

LIX

Passenger Ship, unless he be satisfied as aforesaid with the Hos- | tary Regulations are pital Accomodation therein provided, and with the sanitary state complied with. of the Crew and Passengers

6-This Ordinance shall not come into operation until

Suspending caluse.

Her Majesty's confirmation thereof shall have been proclaimed in this Colony by His Excellency The Governor.

An Ordinance for providing Hospital Accommodation on board Chinese Passenger ships, and for the Medical Inspection of the Passengers and Crews

about to proceed to Sea in such Ships. (26th December, 1859)

No. VI of 1859.

Whereas it is desirable to provide for the allocation of a space on board Chinese Passenger Ships, for the purposes of a Hospital or Sick Bay, and also for the Medical Inspection of the Passengers and Crews on board such Ships, with a view to the better securing the Health of Passengers therein. Be it enacted and ordained by His Excel- lency the Governor of Hongkong with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof as follows:-

1.-In every Chinese Passengers Ship there shall be a sufficient space properly divided off to the satisfaction of the Emigration Officer at the Port of Clearance, to be used exclusively as a Hospital or Sick Bay for the Passengers; this space shall be either under the Poop or in the Round-house, or in any Deck-house which shall be properly built and secured to the satisfaction of such Emigration Officer or on the upper Passenger Deck, and not elsewhere, and shall in no case be of less dimensions thau eighteen clear superficial Feet for every Fifty Passengers which the ship shall carry. Such Hospital shall be fitted with Bed Places and supplied with proper Beds, Bedding and utensils to the satisfaction of such Emigration Officer or on the upper Passenger, Deck, at the port of Clearance, and shall throughout the voyage be kept so fitted and supplied.

2. In the measurement of the Passenger ship, the space for the Hospital shall be included.

3.-No Chinese Passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to Sea on any Voyage of more than seven Day's duration until some Medical Practitioner shall have certified to the Emigration Officer, and the said Emigration Officer shall be satisfied, that none of the Passengers or Crew appear, by reason of any Bodily or mental Disease, unfit to proceed or likely to endanger the Health or safety of others about to proceed in such Vessel; and a Medical Inspection of the Passengers for the purpose of giving such certificate shall take place either on board the Vessel, or at the discretion of the said Emigration Officer, at such convenient Place on shore before embarkation, as he may appoint; and the master, Owner, or Charterer of the Ship, shall pay to such Medical Practitioner a sum at the rate of Twenty current Dollars, for every hundred Persons so examined: Provided, that in case the Emigration Officer on any particular occasion shall be unable to obtain such Certificate as aforesaid or the attendance of a Medical Practitioner within a reasonable time, or without payment of an Inspection Fee at a higher rate than that hereby ordained, then it shall be lawful for the said Emigration Officer to dispense with such Medical Inspection as aforesaid, and to satisfy himself by his own personal examination for which he shall receive the Fee hereinbefore ordained to be paid, of the fit sanitary state of the crew and Passengers; provided also that all Fees received under this section by the Emigration Officer, or Colonial Surgeon of Hongkong shall be, within three days after the receipt thereof paid over by the Officer receiving it into the Treasury to the use of the Crown.

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