the-ordinances-of-the-legislative-counci-1890 — Page 471

ORDINANCE No. 13 OF 1858. 435


Chinese Passenger Ships.


No. 13 of 1858.

An Ordinance for the continuance of the heretofore existing Regulations

respecting Chinese Passenger Ships ; and in the case of British Ships ,
respecting the Treatment of the Passengers therein while at Sea,
and for making Regulations in addition thereto .
21st October, 1858. ]
HEREAS it is desirable to make further provision , in addition to that made by Preamble.
WH the " Chinese Passengers ' Act, 1855 ," for the regulation of Chinese passengers'
ships, and in the case of British ships, for the treatment of the passengers therein
while at sea, with a view to the better securing the health of passengers in such ships :
Be it enacted and ordained, by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the
advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows :
Existing regn'a
1. No Chinese passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea on any voyage of tions to continue
in force.
more than seven days' duration, without strictly conforming in every respect with the
regulations contained in schedule (A) annexed to the " Chinese Passengers' Act, 1855,"
and heretofore in force under the second section of the said Act : Provided always,
that for voyages to places eastward of the Cape of Good Hope or on the West Coast of
America, a Chinese medical practitioner, properly qualified to the satisfaction of the
Emigration Officer, shall be considered a surgeon in terms of the said schedule in all
cases where a properly qualified European or American surgeon is not found ready to
take medical charge of the ship on the payment of such remuneration as to the
Emigration Officer shall appear reasonable.
Hospital accom
2. In every Chinese passenger ship, there shall be a sufficient space properly modation to be
provided.
divided off to the satisfaction of the Emigration Officer at the port of clearance, to be
used exclusively as a hospital or hospitals for the passengers ; this space shall be under
the poop, or in the round-house, or in any deck-house which shall be properly built
and secured to the satisfaction of such Emigration Officer, or on the upper passenger
deck, and not elsewhere , and shall in no case be less than eighteen clear superficial
feet for every fifty passengers which the ship shall carry. Such hospitals shall be fitted
with bed places, and supplied with proper beds, bedding , and utensils, to the satisfaction
of the Emigration Officer at the port of clearance, and throughout the voyage kept so
fitted and supplied .
Space for hos
3. In the measurement of the passenger decks, poop, round-house, or deck - house, pital to be includ
ed in measure
for the purpose of determining the number of passengers to be carried in any Chinese ment of capacity
for passengers.
passenger ship, the space for the hospital shall be included .
4. No Chinese passenger ship shall clear out or proceed to sea on any voyage as Passengers and
crew to be
examined before
aforesaid, until some medical practitioner shall have certified to the Emigration Officer, sailing by some
inedical practi
and the said Emigration Officer shall be satisfied, that none of the passengers or crew tioner.
appear, by reason of any bodily or mental disease, unfit to proceed, or likely to endan
ger the health or safety of other persons about to proceed , in such vessel : and a
medical inspection of the passengers for the purposes of giving such certificate, shall