727644-1854-NOTIFICATION- — Page 2

trave

reaula

130

said Treaties, are hereby published, in accordance with Articles III and IV of the Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 13th day of June, 1853, for the information and guidance of Britisi. Subjects resorting to the Five Ports open for Trade.

By Order,

W. H. MEDHURST, Officiating Secretary to H. B. M.'s Plenipotentiary in China, &c., &c.

Superintendency of Trade, Victoria,

Hongkong, 18th May, 1854. ́

GENERAL REGULATIONS

For the five Ports of CANTON, AMOY, FOOCHOW, NINGPO, and SHANGHAE.

1.--All Rules and Regulations, heretofore in force to secure the observance of Treaties, having reference to any of the Five Ports open for Trade in China, are repealed from and after the date of the publication of the present Regulations.

II. The Consulate Offices shall be open for Public Business from 10 o'clock A. M. to 4 o'clock P. M. daily, excepting on Sundays, and those Holidays, upon which Public Offices in England are closed.

III. Every Master of a Vessel shall deposit his Ship's Papers, together with a Summary of the Manifest of her cargo, at the Consulate Office within forty-eight hours after her arrival in the Port or Anchorage, unless a Sunday or Holiday should intervene. Masters not conforming to this

Regulation will render themselves liable to a penalty of two hundred dollars.

IV. Every British Vessel must shew her Colors on entering the Port or Anchorage and keep them hoisted, until she shall have been reported at the Consulate, and her Papers deposited there. Masters not conforming to this Regulation will render themselves liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offence.

V-Should any Vessel, the property of a British Subject, but not provided with a British Sailing Letter or Certificate of Registry, hoist the British Ensign within any Port or Anchorage, or should she exhibit within such limits any flag so similar to the British Ensign, as not to be distin- guishable from it, the Master of such Vessel will be liable for every such offence to a penalty, not exceeding one hundred dollars,

VI.—In accordance with the Provisions of the XII Article of the General Regulations of Trade, Masters of Vessels in any Port or Anchorage will be held accountable for the conduct of their crews on shore. Should any Seaman absent himself without permission, the Master shall forthwith report the same at the Consulate Office, and take efficient measures for the recovery of the absentee. VII.The discharge of guns or other fire-arms from Vessels in Harbor is strictly prohibited under a penalty not exceeding fifty dollars.

VIII-Masters of Vessels, when reporting their arrival at a Port or Anchorage, shall notify in writing the names of all passengers and persons not forming part of the registered crew on board; and due notice must likewise be given of the number and names of persons not forming part of the registered crew, intending to leave the Port on board of any Vessel.

IX.--All cases of Death occurring on board of Vessels in Harbor, or in the Residences of British Subjects on shore, must be immediately reported at the Consulate Office, and in the event of sudden or accidental Death the best information obtainable will likewise be required. It is strictly prohibited to throw overboard the bodies of Seamen or other persons dying on board of a Vessel in

Harbor.

X.-Stone or Ballast shall not be thrown overboard in Harbor.

XI. All cases of loss of property by theft or fraud on board of Ship, as well as of assault of felony, requiring redress, or involving the public peace, must be immediately reported at the Consulate Office. Any Chinese Subject guilty of a misdemeanour on shore or afloat may be detained on detection; but information must in such case be forthwith lodged at the Consulate Office, and in no instance shall British Subjects be permitted to use violence towards Chinese offenders, or take the law into their own hands.

XII-Any Vessel laden with gunpowder or any other combustible is prohibited from entering an anchorage or remaining within a distance from it of one mile.

XIII. No Seaman or other Person belonging to a British Ship may be discharged or left behind at any Port or Anchorage without the express sanction of the Consul, nor until sufficient security shall have been given for his maintenance and good behaviour while remaining on shore. If any British Subject left at a Port or Anchorage by a British Vessel, be found requiring Public relief prior to the departure of such Vessel from the Dominions of the Emperor of China, the Vessel will be held responsible for the maintenance and removal of such British Subject.

XIV. When a Vessel is ready to leave a Port or Anchorage the Master or Consignees shall apply at the Chinese Custom-House for a Chinese Port-Clearance (Grand-chop,) and on his presenting this document together with a copy of the Manifest of his export cargo at the Consulate Office, his Ship's papers will be restored, and he will be furnished with a Consular Port-Clearance, on receiving which the Vessel will be at liberty to leave the Port. Should any Vessel take in or discharge cargo subsequent to the issue of the Grand-chop, the Master will be subject to a penalty not exceeding five hundred dollars, and the goods so taken in or discharged will be liable to confiscation under the terms of the General Regulations of Trade with reference to breaking bulk without due permission.

XV.-When a Vessel is ready to leave a Port or Anchorage the Master shall give notice thereof to the Consul, and shall hoist a Blue Peter at least 24 hours before the time appointed for her departure. The Consul may dispense with the observance of this Regulation on security being given that claims presented within 24 hours will be paid.