679615-1882-Marine-Court-S-S-Hongkong- — Page 1

DIE

MAL·

MON

ROIT.

THE HONGKONG

Government Gazette.

報門轅 港 香

Published by Authority.

No. 43.

VICTORIA, SATURDAY, 23RD SEPTEMBER, 1882.

號三十四第 日二十月八年午壬 日三十月九年二十八百八千一

VOL. XXVIII.

簿八十二第

GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.-No. 377.

The following finding of a Marine Court appointed to enquire into the loss of the British Steamer Hongkong, having been confirmed by His Excellency the Administrator, is published for general

information.

By Command,

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 20th September, 1882.

FREDERICK STEWART,

Acting Colonial Secretary.

FINDING.

We find that the British Steam-ship Hongkong, Official No. 85,077, JOHN BIDEN FRYER, Number of whose Certificate of Competency is 95,926, Master, was totally lost on a rock lying in the fairway, a little North from between Long-yit and Double-yit at the Southern entrance of the Haitan Straits.

We find that the Chart by which the Hongkong was navigated (Admiralty 1985 corrected to January 1879) had not this rock marked on it.

We find there was an experienced Chinese Pilot on board, but the Court has not been able to take his evidence as he left the vessel soon after she was lost, and has not been seen since.

We find that the rock on which the Hongkong was lost, was surveyed by Lieut. and Commander A. CARPENTER of H.M.S. Magpie in March last, and that a description of it was published in the Hongkong Government Gazette on the 1st April following.

We are of opinion that no blame is to be attached to the Master of the Hongkong for the loss of that ship.

The Court is of opinion that Vendors of Charts should be careful in keeping their Charts corrected before selling them.

Given under our hands at Hongkong, this Twelfth day of September, 1882.

H. G. THOMSETT, R.N., Stipendiary Magistrate.

G. W. BALLISTON,

WM. TUTTON,

ROBERT H. Joy, ROBERT CLASPer,

Confirmed,

Commissioned Officer in the Royal Navy.

Commanding the British S.S. "Moray.”

Commanding the British S.S. "Canopus." Commanding the British S.S." Paxo."

W. H. MARSH,

Administrator and Commander-in-Chief.