### Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance 《商船(安全)條例》

84. Obligation to assist vessels, etc. in distress
(1) The master of a ship registered in Hong Kong, on receiving at sea a signal of distress or information from any source that a vessel or aircraft is in distress, shall proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress (informing them if possible that he is doing so) unless he is unable, or in the special circumstances of the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to do so, or unless he is released under subsection (3) or (4).
(2) Where the master of any ship in distress has requisitioned any ship registered in Hong Kong that has answered his call, it shall be the duty of the master of the requisitioned ship to comply with the requisition by continuing to proceed with all speed to the assistance of the persons in distress.
(3) A master shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1) as soon as he is informed of the requisition of one or more ships other than his own and that the requisition is being complied with by the ship or ships requisitioned.
(4) A master shall be released from the obligation imposed by subsection (1) and, if his ship has been requisitioned, from the obligation imposed by subsection (2), if he is informed by the persons in distress, or by the master of any ship that has reached the persons in distress, that assistance is no longer required.
(5) If a master fails to comply with subsection (1) or subsection (2), he commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3. (Amended E.R. 5 of 2021)
(6) If the master of a ship registered in Hong Kong, on receiving at sea a signal of distress or information from any source that a vessel or aircraft is in distress, is unable, or in the special circumstances of the case considers it unreasonable or unnecessary, to go to the assistance of the persons in distress, he shall forthwith cause a statement to be entered in the official log-book, or if there is no official log-book cause other record to be kept, of his reasons for not going to the assistance of those persons.
(7) The master of every ship registered in Hong Kong for which an official log-book is required shall enter, or cause to be entered, in the official log-book every signal of distress or message that a vessel, aircraft or person is in distress at sea.
(8) Any master who fails to comply with subsection (6) or (7) commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 1. (Amended E.R. 5 of 2021)

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance 《商船(安全)條例》

85. Careful navigation near ice
(1) The master of a ship registered in Hong Kong, when ice is reported on or near his course, shall at night either proceed at a safe speed or change his course so as to keep amply clear of the ice reported and of the area of danger.
(2) The master of any ship who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 3. (Amended E.R. 5 of 2021)

86. Method of giving helm orders
(1) No person on any ship registered in Hong Kong shall, when the ship is going ahead—
(a) give a helm or steering order containing the word “starboard” or “right” or any equivalent of “starboard” or “right” unless he intends that the head of the ship shall move to the right; or
(b) give a helm or steering order containing the word “port” or “left” or any equivalent of “port” or “left” unless he intends that the head of the ship shall move to the left.
(2) Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 1. (Amended E.R. 5 of 2021)

87. Offences in respect of dangerous goods
(1) Any person who sends by, or, not being the owner or master of the vessel, carries in, any ship any dangerous goods without—
(a) marking distinctly their nature on the outside of the container or package containing them; and
(b) giving written notice of
(i) the nature of such goods; and
(ii) the name and address of the sender or carrier thereof,
to the owner or master of the ship at or before the time of sending them to be shipped or taking the same on board the ship,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 4:

Provided that if any such person satisfies the magistrate or court that he—
(i) was an agent in the shipment of the goods; and
(ii) was not aware of, and had no reason to suspect, that the goods shipped by him were dangerous goods,
he is liable to a fine at level 2.
(2) Any person who—
(a) knowingly sends by, or carries in, any ship any dangerous goods under a false description; or
(b) falsely describes the sender or carrier of any dangerous goods,
commits an offence and is liable to a fine at level 5.
(Amended E.R. 5 of 2021)

88. Stowage of dangerous goods
The owner or master of any ship may refuse to take on board any package or container which he suspects to contain dangerous goods and may require it to be opened to ascertain its contents.

### Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance 《商船(安全)條例》

89. Forfeiture of dangerous goods
(1) Where any dangerous goods—
(a) have been sent or carried, or attempted to be sent or carried, on board any ship without—
(i) being marked in accordance with section 87(1)(a); or
(ii) a notice having been given in accordance with section 87(1)(b);
(b) have been sent or carried, or attempted to be sent or carried—
(i) under a false description; or
(ii) with the name of the sender or carrier falsely declared,
a magistrate or court may order that the dangerous goods be forfeited to the Government and thereafter disposed of in such manner as he thinks fit. (Amended 10 of 2009 s. 28)
(2) A magistrate or court may make an order under subsection (1) notwithstanding that—
(a) the owner of the dangerous goods—
(i) may not have committed an offence under section 87 in respect of the dangerous goods; or
(ii) may not be before the magistrate or court and may not have notice of the proceedings; or
(b) there may be no evidence before the magistrate or court in respect of the ownership of the dangerous goods:
Provided that the magistrate or court may require notice of such proceedings to be given to the owner or shipper of the dangerous goods before making an order for their forfeiture and disposal.

90. Director may refuse clearance
The Director may refuse a port clearance to any passenger ship if there are on board any dangerous goods which are not stowed to his satisfaction.

91. Power to deal with goods suspected of being dangerous
When any dangerous goods, or any goods which in the opinion of the master or owner of the ship are dangerous goods, have been sent or brought aboard any ship without being marked in accordance with section 87(1)(a) or without any notice under section 87(1)(b) having been given, the master or owner may, having regard to all the circumstances, including the risk to persons and property on board the ship and the need to protect the marine environment, dispose of those goods together with any package or receptacle in which they are contained in such manner as he thinks fit; and neither the master nor the owner of the ship shall be subject to any liability, civil or criminal, for so disposing of the goods.

92. Saving for other enactments relating to dangerous goods

The provisions of this Part relating to the carriage of dangerous goods shall be in addition to and not in substitution for, or in restraint of, any other enactment relating to the carriage of dangerous goods.