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CHAPTER VI.

HARBOUR REGULATIONS, CIVIL ADMINISTRATION, AND MISCELLANEA.

1. Regulation of Harbour Traffic.

The following Regulations for harbour traffic will be put in force when hostilities are threatening, at the discretion of the Senior Naval and Military Officers, and notification of their being put in force will be sent to the Consuls at all neighbouring ports in China, Japan, Sir gapore, Manila, &c. :———

1. The concurrence of the Senior Naval Officer will be obtained before any steps are taken to interfere with the free entrance of vessels into the harbour.

2. Mines will be laid down, and will only be made active with the concurrence of the Senior Naval Officer.

3. On the outbreak of war notices will be issued to Consuls, and directions given to the mercantile marine of the positions outside which vessels must bring to for examination.

4. Acting under the direction of the Senior Naval Officer, the Harbour-master is responsible for regulating the admission, outgoing, and conduct in harbour of ships of all kinds.

5. In the Harbour-master's office is a list of nearly 100 launches which may be hired for examining purposes, and also a list of officers of the mercantile marine who might be engaged at short notice. All expenses in connection with the examination of shipping will be borne by the Colony.

6. All steam-vessels and ships will be made to bring-to for examination outside Lyemun Pass if entering from the east, or in Belcher's Bay if coming from the west, and will not cross the entrance to Lyemun Pass on the east, and the north and south line which touches the western point of Stonecutters Island on the west, until provided by the Harbour-master with the permissory signal, and with either a pilot or full instructions as to the passage to be taken through the mine-fields. All such ships coming from the west will enter by the Sulphur Channel.

7. Junks and local sailing craft will at night, if coming from the east, anchor in Sywan Bay, or if it is blowing strong from the north-east, in Junk Bay; if coming from the west they will anchor in the red sector of Green Island light.

By day they will be permitted to enter the eastern entrance, but on the west they will be subject to the regulations which are laid down in paragraph 6 for steam- vessels and ships; if allowed to go at their own free will they might purposely or by accident become entangled in the mine-fields.

8. The permissory signal will consist of flags by day and coloured lamps by night, to be altered from day to day.

9. Any steam-vessel or ship attempting to pass the lines above indicated without showing the permissory signal will be first warned by a shot fired across the bows. If this is insufficient, she is to be treated as an enemy both by batteries and mines without further question.

10. No steam-vessel or ship is to leave the harbour without receiving a pilot or instructions from the Harbour-master for her guidance through the mine-fields.

2. Management of Civil Population.

There are different Ordinances which already empower the Governor in Council to prevent any but natural-born or naturalized subjects of Her Majesty from residing in or being within the Colony; to prevent Chinese from being at large at night in the city of Victoria, if desired; to swear in special constables; and to search for and seize arms. All the above additional powers to those ordinarily exercised by the police can be enforced at very short notice.

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