694849-1875-Emigration-Rules-for-Carrying-Chinese-Passengers- — Page 1

THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 18TH SEPTEMBER, 1875. 399

NOTICE.

EMIGRATION.

HARBOUR DEPARTMENT, HONGKONG, 14th September, 1875.

The following information is supplied to Masters of Vessels about to carry Chinese Passengers under "The Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855," and Local Ordinances.

1. Imperial Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855.-Any vessel clearing with more than twenty (20) Asiatics on a voyage of more than seven (7) days' duration is a Chinese Passenger ship.

2. Proclamations of 26th January, 1856, and 17th November, 1858.-Declare the length of certain

voyages.

3. Ordinance No. 5 of 1874.--Section III gives the legal definition of a short voyage.

PART I.

4. Section IV.-Notice of ship being laid on as a Chinese Passenger ship to be given to Emigra-

tion Officer.

5. Section V.-No Chinese Passenger ship, except ships about to proceed on a voyage of not more than thirty (30) days' duration within the meaning of Section VIII, shall clear out, unless the Master of such ship shall be provided with a Licence, or shall have been specially exempted under Para. 2 of this Section.

6. This Section describes the mode of application for a Licence, and it also empowers the Governor in Council to remove any Officer from an Emigrant ship who is unfit for the proper discharge of his duties.

7. Section VI prohibits any person from the sale or letting of passages in any Chinese Passenger ship, unless such person shall have procured a Licence.

8. Section VII.-Every Chinese Passenger ship, except ships clearing under the provisions of Section VIII, shall be provided with a Hospital properly fitted with Beds, Bedding and Utensils.

9. Para. 4.-All the Passengers and Crew shall be medically examined before the departure of the ship.

10. Para. 8.-Chinese Medical Practitioners may be Surgeons of Chinese Passenger ships. 11. Section VIII contains modified regulations for ships clearing out on voyages of not more than thirty (30) days' duration.

12. Section IX treats of vessels about to convey Emigrants under contract of service.

13. Para. 2.-Emigrants under contract of service shall lodge at least three (3) clear days in a Depôt approved of, and under the supervision of the Emigration Officer.

14. Section X.-Orders of Her Majesty the Queen in Council relating to the quantity of water to be carried by Passenger ships having a certain description of Condensing Apparatus shall apply to Chinese Passenger ships.

15. Section XI.-No sailing Chinese Passenger ship bound to any Port westward of the Cape of Good Hope, or, to any Port in Australia, New Zealand, Oceania, or Tasmania is permitted to clear between the months of April and September inclusive.

PART II.

16. Section XIV.Notice is to be given to the Emigration Officer of intention to fit any vessel for the conveyance of Chinese Emigrants to be embarked at any port or place out of the Colony.

17. Para. 2. The Master of any ship arriving within the waters of the Colony, and which is fitted for the conveyance of Chinese Emigrants, is to report the same to the Emigration Officer.

18. Para. 3.All Fittings are subject to the approval of the Emigration Officer.

19. Para. 4.--No ship fitting or fitted under this Section shall proceed to sea without the Emi- gration Officer's Certificate.

20. Para. 5.-Barricades and Gratings are prohibited.

21. Section XV.-No Chinese Emigrant ship within the provisions of this Section shall be fitted, manned, or equipped unless the Master thereof shall have procured a Licence from the Governor.

RULES.

1. The Master of a Chinese Passenger ship enters into a Bond of One thousand Pounds that every and all of the Requirements of the Chinese Passengers' Act, and of the Regulations issued under the Act, or by the Legislature of Hongkong, shall be well and truly observed.

2. These Regulations apply more especially to the accommodation, medical attendance, and regular daily issue of provisions, fuel and water. It is, therefore, the Master's interest, and he should make it his especial care, to see that the fittings are strong, and that the full quantity of provisions, medicine and medical comforts, fuel and water are on board; and, that after these articles are on board and have been passed by the proper Officer from this Office, they are carefully and securely stowed away.