629593-1899-Bills-read-first-time--Piers-Naturaliz — Page 2

1004

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 24TH JUNE, 1899.

Short title.

Meaning of

'pier."

14

A BILL

ENTIFLED

• The Piers Ordinance, 1899.

Be it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-

1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Piers Ordinance, 1899.

2. The expression "Pier" as used in this Ordinance shall include every pier and wharf of whatever description, except a pier or wharf which belongs to the Government of this Colony or to the Naval or Military Authorities.

Rent charge.

3. From and after the date of the passing of this Ordi- able for piers. nance rent in accordance with the scale which is specified in the Schedule to this Ordinance shall (except in cases where rent on a higher scale is now payable to the Govern- ment by agreement) be payable to the Colonial Treasurer for the use of the Government of this Colony by the owner for the time being of any pier, whether already erected or hereafter to be erected or re-erected over Crown foreshore, notwithstanding the provisions of any Ordinance to the con- trary and notwithstanding any agreement or understanding between the Government and the owner of such pier or any of his predecessors in title to the effect that no rent or rent on a lower scale should be payable in respect of such Pier.

Such rents shall be payable in advance by equal monthly instalments and, in the case of a new Pier, shall commence to be payable from the date of the granting of the licence therefor: Provided nevertheless that no rent shall be chargeable in respect of any Pier which is removed before the expiration of one calendar month from the date of the granting of the licence for its erection and that rent for such a Pier, if paid, shall be refunded.

Any new pier to be of ap. proved de. sign, etc.

Any altera-

tion or exten-

sion to be approved.

Foundation of pier, &c.,

to be kept in repair. Access to pier.

Green light to be exhibit ed on end of pier.

Restriction on buoys and moorings.

Pier not to be used for storage.

No building

except a

shelter to be

erected.

In the case of the extension of an existing Pier the extra rent for the extra land to be covered by such extension shall commence to be payable from the date of the granting of the licence for such extension.

In the case, however, of temporary Piers it shall be law- ful for the Governor-in-Council to remit the whole or a portion of any rent which is chargeable under this section.

4. No pier shall hereafter be erccted or re-crected except with the licence of the Director of Public Works, and every such Pier shall be of such design and dimensions and con- struction and material as shall be approved of by the Director of Public Works.

5. No alteration or extension of any Pier whatever shall at any time be made by the owner thereof except with the licence of the Director of Public Works.

6. The foundation, superstructure, landing-steps, road way, and every other portion of the Pier shall at all times be maintained in a state of safety and repair by the owner.

7. The owner shall have no right of access to a Pier by water other than such as the Harbour Master shall think fit to allow.

8. A green light so constructed and of such a character as to be visible from seaward on a dark night with a clear atmosphere at a distance of at least one mile shall be exhibited within six feet of the outer end of every Pier, and such light shall be erected and maintained by the owner of the Pier and at his expense, and shall be kept lighted by such owner between sunset and sunrise. Such light shall be not less than ten and not more than fifteen feet above the level of the upper surface of the Pier.

9. No buoys or moorings shall be kept or placed by the owner of any Pier otherwise than in accordance with and subject to the provisions of any Merchant Shipping Statute which may from time to time be in force in the Colony.

10. No Pier shall be used by any person for the storage of materials of any description, and no articles or materials or things shall remain on any Pier beyond the time actually required for their shipment or landing as the case may be.

11. No warehouse, shed or building of any kind, other than a shelter against the weather, shall be erected by any person on any Pier.