674452-1884-Government-Notification-No-388 — Page 5

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 1ST NOVEMBER, 1884.

857

Art. 23. In obeying and construing these rules due regard shall be had to all dangers of navi- gation, and to any special circumstances which may render a departure from the above rules necessary in order to avoid iminediate danger.

No Ship, under any circumstances, to neglect proper Precautions.

Art. 24. Nothing in these rules shall exonerate any ship, or the owner, or master, or crew thereof, from the consequences of any neglect to carry lights or signals, or of any neglect to keep a proper look out, or of the neglect of any precaution which may be required by the ordinary practice of seamen, or by the special circumstances of the case.

Reservation of Rules for Harbours and Inland Navigation.

Art. 25. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of a special rule, duly made by local authority, relative to the navigation of any harbour, river, or inland navigation.

Special Lights for Squadrons and Convoys.

Art. 26. Nothing in these rules shall interfere with the operation of any special rules made by the Government of any nation with respect to additional station and signal lights for two or more ships of war or for ships sailing under convoy.

Art. 27. When a ship is in distress and requires assistance from other ships or from the shore, the following shall be the signals to be used or displayed by her, either together or separately, that is

to

say:--

In the daytime-

1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute;

2. The International Code signal of distress indicated by N C;

3. The distant signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above or below it a ball or

anything resembling a ball.

At night--

1. A gun fired at intervals of about a minute;

2. Flames on the ship (as from a burning tar barrel, oil barrel, &c.);

3. Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any colour or description, fired one at a time, at

short intervals.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 380.

The following Notification from Vice-Admiral COURBET, Commander-in-Chief of the French Naval Forces in China, respecting the blockade of the West and North Coasts and Ports of Formosa, from South Cape to Dome Point has been forwarded to this Government by Vice-Admiral Sir W. M. DOWELL, K.C.B., with a request that it should be published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 28th October, 1884.

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

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NOTIFICATION DE BLOCUS.

Nous soussigné Vice-Amiral COURBET, Commandant en Chef les Forces Navales Françaises dans l'extrème Orient.

Vu l'état de représailles existant entre la France et la Chine, agissant en vertu des pouvoirs qui nous appartiennent,

Declarons :

Qu'à partir du 23 Octobre, 1884, la côte et les portes de Formose compris entre le Cap Sud, (Latitude 21° 50′ Nord, Longitude 118° 32′ Est) et la pointe Dôme (Latitude 24° 30′ Nord, Longitude 119° 35′ Est) en passant par l'Ouest et le Nord, seront tenus en état de Blocus effectif par les Forces Navales placées sous notre commandement, et que les bâtiments amis ou neutres auront un delai de trois jours pour achever leur chargement et quitter les lieux bloqués.

Il sera procédé contre tout bâtiment qui tenterait de violer le dit blocus conformément aux Lois Internationales et aux traités en vigueur avec les Puissances neutres.

A bord du Cuirassé le Bayard, rade de Kélung, le 20 Octobre, 1884.

(Signed,) A. COURBET.