# The Hong Kong Government Gazette/Old Series/No 77

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​No. 77.
THE
Hongkong
GOVERNMENT GAZETTE.
Published by Authority.
Victoria, Hongkong; Saturday, March 10, 1855.
Government Notification.
The Contract hitherto in force for the publication of Government Notifications having ceased on the 21st instant,—Notice is hereby given, that the Hong Kong Government Gazette, this day established, will be hereafter the only Official Organ of Proclamations, Notifications, and all Public Papers of this Government.
By Order,
W. Caine, Colonial Secretary.
Victoria, Hongkong, 24th September, 1853.
HONGKONG. ANNO DECIMO OCTAVO VICTORIÆ REGINÆ. No. 4 of 1855.
BY His Excellency Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects in China, with the advice of the Legislative Council of Hongkong.
Title. An Ordinance to establish a proper System of Registration for Colonial Vessels.
[3d March, 1855.]
Preamble. WHEREAS many illegal acts have resulted from the improper use of Registers granted at Hongkong under the provisions of the Imperial Acts to vessels employed solely in trading with the mainland of China, and it is necessary that legal trading should be protected and illegal trading prevented:—
No British Vessel without either an Imperial or Colonial Register to use the waters of this Colony. I. Be it therefore enacted and ordained by His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, that from and after the passing of this Ordinance no ship or vessel whatsoever owned by a British Subject shall be an Imperial at liberty to trade in any of the harbours of this Colony unless in the case of an outward trading ship or vessel she be provided with a Certificate of Registry in conformity with the Imperial Acts of Parliament on that behalf; and in the case of a China trading ship or vessel she has in all respects complied with the requirements of this Ordinance.
Declarations necessary for obtaining Register. II. And be it further enacted and ordained, That henceforward when any person or persons shall be desirous of obtaining a Register for a ship or vessel in this Colony, it shall be necessary for such person or persons to forward to the Colonial Secretary a declaration in writing stating whether the ship or vessel for which such Register is sought is intended to be employed solely in trade with China or on more distant voyages, and that according to such statement a Register shall be granted to such ship or vessel either an Imperial Register as prescribed by the Imperial Acts in that behalf or a Colonial Register as laid down in this Ordinance: provided always that should such declaration be false or the ship or vessel to which it relates not be employed in conformity with it, the Register thereby obtained whether Imperial or Colonial shall ipso facto become null and void.
Documents necessary previous to grant of Colonial Register. III. And be it further enacted and ordained, That a Colonial Register shall be given under the hand of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Officer administering the Government of this Colony on production of the following Documents:—
    The Harbour Master's certificate as hereinafter provided by Section VII.
    A declaration of ownership with proof thereof to the satisfaction of the Colonial Secretary.
    A joint and several Band of the Owner and two Sureties binding each and every of the several obligees under a penal sun of One thousand Dollars, to comply with all the provisions of this Ordinance and with all the laws binding on British Subjects with regard to trade with China.
Name of Colonial Registered ship. IV. And be it further enacted and ordained, That it shall not be lawful for the owner or owners of any Colonial Registered ship or vessel to give her any name other than that of her Registry, and such owner or owners before such ship or vessel shall after registry take in any cargo or leave this Colony are required to paint or cause to be painted in white or yellow letters not less than four inches long her name upon some conspicuous part of her stern in a distinct and legible manner, and both in Roman and Chinese characters, and shall so keep and preserve the same upon pain on breach of the provisions of this section in addition to any other pains and penalties and forfeitures in this Ordinance contained, to a penalty not exceeding Five hundred Dollars.
Production of Colonial Register to Harbour Master every six months. V. And be it further enacted and ordained, That the Register of every Colonial Registered ship or vessel shall be produced once at least every six months to the pain on of production of the forfeiture of such Register, unless satisfactory cause for such non-production be shewn to the Colonial Secretary.
Chinese Crown Lessees entitles to hold Colonial Registers. VI. And be it further enacted and ordained, That it shall be lawful for Chinese Residents within this Colony to apply for and obtain Colonial Registers provided the person or persons applying as owners be registered lessees of Crown lands within this colony and that such owner or owners tender as securities for the due performance by them of all the requirements of this Ordinance two other Crown lessees, and that such owners and such lessees be severally reported by the Registrar General to the satisfaction of the Colonial Secretary to be each worth Two thousand Dollars in this Colony, and should such owner or owners be member or members of any shop or partnership that the seal that the seal of such shop or partnership be also affixed to the security to be given by such owner.
Harbour Master's Certificate. VII. And be it further enacted and ordained, That the certificate to be granted by the Harbour Master do specify the proper measurement of the ship or vessel requiring a Colonial Register and that such ship or vessel has proper anchors and chains, canvas sails, her bottom sheathed with metal, and that her master is a British subject or a person conversant with the English language.
Fees payable. VIII. And be it further enacted and ordained, That a fee of Twenty-five Dollars be paid on the granting of the Harbour Master's certificate and that on the issue of every Colonial Register a further fee of Twenty-fire Dollars shall be paid to the Colonial Secretary, and that these two sums shall include all charges necessary for the issue of a Colonial Register.
Change of owner or Master. IX. And be it further enacted and ordained that upon any change of ownership any Colonial Ship or Vessel registered under this Ordinance, such change as aforesaid shall be endorsed upon her Register under the hand of the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, or Officer administering the Government, upon the payment of a Fee of Twenty-five Dollars to the Colonial Secretary, the requisite Declaration of ownership and and Bond herein before in this Ordinance mentioned and directed being first duly made and executed:—Provided always, that any change of Muster be endorsed upon the Register by by the Colonial Secretary, and that a Fee of Five Dollars be charged for the said endorsement.
Duration of Colonial Register. X. And be it further enacted and ordained, That any Colonial Register granted under this Ordinance shall be in force and in force and effect for one year from the date of such Register and no longer, that such Register be renewable by endorsement on the same, under the hand of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Officer administering the Government, on the payment of a fee on Ten Dollars, provided always that such Register be deposited in the Office of the the Office of the Colonial Secretary one week before the expiration of the been granted, or the registered ship or vessel be at sea, then on her return to the waters of the Colony.
Penalty for violation of Ordinance. XI. And be it further enacted and ordained, That any infringement of the provisions of this Ordinance shall render the Colonial Register ipso facto void, and shall render the ship or vessel sailing under such Register forfeit to the Crown, in addition to the penalty of the bonds herein before set forth.
Application of Fees. XII. And be it further enacted and ordained, That all Fees payable or penalties imposed under this Ordinance shall be paid into the Colonial Treasury, and shall be recoverable in a summary manner before any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace.
​Registration of Boats not interfered with. XIII. And be it further enacted and ordained, That nothing in this Ordinance contained shall be held to annul or interfere with the Registration of Boats as established under Ordinance No. 7 of 1846.
JOHN BOWRING.
Passed the Legislative Council of Hongkong, this 3rd Day of March, 1855. L. D'Almada e Castro, Clerk of Councils.
PROCLAMATION.
JOHN BOWRING.
By His Excellency Sir John Bowring, Knight, LL.D., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary and Chief Superintendent of the Trade of British Subjects in China.
Whereas the Commands of Her Most Gracious Majesty The Queen, conveyed through the Right Honorable Sir George Grey, Bart., G.C.B., Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies, have been received, approving of and confirming Ordinance No. 2 of 1854, entitled Market Ordinance:—
Now, therefore, it is hereby declared that the said Ordinance has been been approved and confirmed as aforesaid.
By His Excellency's Command,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
God save the Queen.
Given at Victoria, Hongkong, this 3rd day of March, 1855.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Public attention is specially called to the Government Notification of 8th Ultimo, wherein a Sale of Leases of Crown Lands is advertised for the 15th instant. And also to the Government Notification of 2nd Instant, wherein is published a descriptive Statement of the Lots or Parcels of Ground which will be submitted to Public Auction at that Sale.
With reference to the above Notifications it is hereby intimated that owing to the departure of the English Mail on the date fixed, the intended Sale will be held on the 16th, instead of the 15th as before advertised.
All particulars may be learnt by application at the Surveyor General's Office.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong. 6th March, 1855.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
It is hereby notified that the Documents necessary to obtain a Certificate of British Registry for a Vessel, or to procure endorsement on change of owner or master, will in future be prepared and furnished at the Colonial Secretary's Office; such preliminary Documents excepted as refer to proofs of Ownership, as Bills of Sale, &c.
The documents requisite for a Colonial Register will be furnished in like manner, and public attention is hereby called to the provisions of Ordinance No. 4 of 1855.
In the case of Vessels requiring an Imperial Register, the Harbour Master's certificate of measureument is neccessary as heretofore, and this Officer is directed to furnish the same at the charge hitherto made, viz: Sixteen Dollars, which sum is to be paid into the Colonial Treasury.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 7th March, 1855.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
With reference to the provision of "the Passengers' Act 1852" restricting the number of Passengers to which the required space of Twelve feet has been allotted to one for every two Tons of the ship's registered burthen, the Emigration Officer has been instructed to apply to all ships a uniform standard of measurement, namely—that now or hereafter to be employed for ascertaining the capacity of British Vessels.—Ships not registered under the latest Imperial Acts must therefore procure from the Government Surveyor a certificate of their actual capacity before they can be passed by the Emigration Officer.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria,
Diplomatic Department.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Notice is hereby given that from henceforth Sailing Letters will be issued only from the office of the Chief Superintendent of Trade, and will be granted subject to the following conditions.
1. That the Sailing Letter shall be in force only for the term of one year.
2. That the sum of Fifty Dollars be paid on the granting of such Sailing Letter, and the sum of Twenty five Dollars on each annual renewal thereof.
3. That the applicant for such Sailing Letter do make a declaration of ownership with regard to the vessel for which such sailing letter is sought, which declaration shall, if necessary, be proved the satisfaction of the Chief Superintendent of Trade.
4. That if proved to the satisfaction of the Chief Superintendent of Trade that the vessel for which such Sailing Letter is desired, is of not less than 50 tons tonnage, that she has suitable anchors, chains, and sails, that her bottom is is sheathed with metal, and that she is to be commanded by an English subject, or a person conversant with the English language
5. That every vessel for which a Sailing Letter has been obtained, before proceeding on any voyage, after the granting of such Sailing Letter, shall have painted in white or yellow letters, not less than seven inches long, her name upon some conspicuous part of her stern, in a distinct manner, and in Chinese and Roman characters, and shall so keep and preserve the same.
6. That the grantee of such Sailing Letter shall execute a bond to the Chief Superintendent of "Trade for the time being, and his successors in office, conditioned to perform all the requirements of this notice, and to observe, so far as regards the vessel for which such Sailing Letter has been obtained, all laws binding on English subjects with regard to trade with China.
By Order,
W. WOODGATE.
Superintendency of Trade, Victoria, Hongkong, 8th March 1855.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Wanted a passage to England for five European Convicts.
Sealed Tenders will be received addressed to the Coloninal Secretary, and particulars may be learnt on application at the Harbour Master's Office.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 10th February, 1855.
GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.
Wanted a passage to Penang for twenty eight Chinese Convicts.
Sealed Tenders will be received at this Office. For particulars apply to the Harbour Master.
By Order,
W. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 10th February, 1855.
Diplomatic Department.
His Excellency, Her Majesty's Chief Superintendent of British Trade in China, is pleased to direct that the annexed Returns of British Trade at the Port of Amoy, during the year ending 31st December 1854, be published for general information.
W. WOODGATE.
Superintendency of Trade, Victoria, Hongkong, 5th March 1855.
​A Return of the Quantities and Value of Merchandize IMPORTED into the Port of AMOY in 41 British Vessel of 11,084 Tons from the Countries and Places undermentioned, during the Year ending the 31st December, 1854.
$ at 5l = £141,026. 16s. 3d.
CHARLES A. WINCHESTER, Acting Vice-Consul in Charge.
British Consulate, Amoy, 31st December, 1854.
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