677050-1883-Agreement-with-Denmark-re-distressed-Seamen- — Page 1

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 13TH OCTOBER, 1883.

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.--No. 334.

The following Circular despatch, respecting an Agreement between Great Britain and Denmark for the Mutual Relief of Distressed Seamen, is published for general information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 13th October, 1883.

J. H. STEWART-LOCKHART,

for the Colonial Secretary.

DOWNING STREET, 11th August, 1883.

SIR,-I have the honour to transmit to you, for publication in the Colony under your

bent, copies of an Agreement between the Governments of Great Britain and Denmark for the Mutual Relief of Distressed Seamen, signed at London on the 25th of July, 1883.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient humble Servant,

DERBY.

The Officer Administering the Government of

HONGKONG.

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AGREEMENT between the Governments of Great Britain and Denmark for the

Mutual Relief of Distressed Seamen.

Signed at London, July 25, 1883.

THE Government of Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Government of His Majesty the King of Denmark, being desirous to make arrangements for the relief of distressed seamen of the two nations in certain cases, the Undersigned, duly authorized to that effect, have agreed as follows :—

If a seaman of one of the Contracting States, after serving on board a ship of the other Contracting State, remains behind in a third State or in its Colonies, or in the Colonies of that State whose flag the ship carries, and the said seaman is in a helpless condition in consequence of shipwreck, or from other causes, then the Government of that State whose flag the ship bears shall be bound to support the said seaman until he enters into ship-service again, or finds other employment, or until he arrives in his native State or its Colonies, or dies.

But this is on condition that the seaman so situated shall avail himself of the first opportunity that offers to prove his necessitous condition, and the causes thereof, to the proper officials, of the State whose support is to be solicited, and that the destitution is shown to be the natural consequence of the termination of his service on board the ship: otherwise the aforesaid liability to afford relief lapses.

The said liability is also excluded if the seaman has deserted, or has been turned out of the ship for any criminal act, or has left it on account of disability for service in consequence of illness or wounding resulting from his own fault.

The relief includes maintenance, clothing, medical attendance, medicine, and travelling expenses ; in case of death the funeral expenses are also to be paid.

The present Agreement shall come into operation on the 1st November, 1883, and shall continue. in force until one of the Contracting Parties shall announce to the other, one year in advance, its intention to terminate it.

In witness whereof the Undersigned, duly authorized for that purpose, have signed the present Agreement, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms.

Done at London in duplicate the twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty-three.

(L.S.)

GRANVILLE.

(L.S.)

FALBE.