### Merchant Shipping Ordinance 《商船條例》

3. Certificate or licence required by all ships trading in Hong Kong
(1) Every ship trading outwards from Hong Kong or trading or being used for any commercial purpose in the waters of Hong Kong must be provided with—
(a) a certificate of registry or certificate of provisional registry granted under the Merchant Shipping (Registration) Ordinance (Cap. 415);
(b) a certificate of registry or other document granted in a place outside Hong Kong and similar or equivalent in effect to a certificate referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) a certificate of ownership within the meaning of section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548). (Replaced 43 of 1999 s. 91)
(2) A document purporting to be—
(a) a certificate of registry or other document referred to in subsection (1)(b); or
(b) a copy of such a certificate or document certified as a true copy by a person having custody of the original, or having responsibility for the grant of the original,
shall be admitted in evidence in legal proceedings under this section upon its production unless it is proved that it is not the document it purports to be or that it was not signed or certified by the person by whom it purports to be signed or certified, as the case may be, and if so admitted shall be sufficient, but not conclusive, evidence of any matter stated in the certificate or document.
(Replaced 74 of 1990 s. 104)

50A. Interpretation
In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires—
certificate (證書) and certificate of competency (合格證書) include a local certificate of competency issued under Part V of the Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance (Cap. 548) and a licence within the meaning of section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance (Cap. 478); (Amended 36 of 1986 s. 8; 78 of 1990 s. 7; 44 of 1995 s. 143; 43 of 1999 s. 91)
ship (船、船舶) includes every description of vessel used in navigation.
(Added 64 of 1980 s. 3)

### Merchant Shipping Ordinance 《商船條例》

51. Preliminary inquiry
(1) Where a shipping casualty has occurred a preliminary inquiry may be held respecting the casualty by any person appointed for the purpose by the Director of Marine.
(2) For the purpose of any such inquiry, the person holding the same shall have the powers given by section 115 of the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap. 369).
(3) After the conclusion of such inquiry the person holding the same shall forward a report thereof to the Chief Executive without delay and, in any event, not later than 1 month after such conclusion.
(Added 44 of 1954 s. 2. Amended 64 of 1999 s. 3)[cf. 1894 c. 60 s. 465 U.K.]

### Merchant Shipping Ordinance 《商船條例》

52. Chief Executive may appoint marine court; constitution, etc.
(1) The Chief Executive may whenever occasion may arise in the circumstances detailed in section 53(2) (whether a preliminary inquiry under section 51 has been held or not) by warrant under his hand and the seal of Hong Kong, appoint a court (which shall be called the marine court) to make investigations as to casualties affecting ships, or to inquire into charges of incompetency or misconduct on the part of masters, mates or engineers of ships. (Amended 42 of 1956 s. 2; 37 of 1959 s. 9; 61 of 1989 s. 13)
(2)  Such court shall consist of a judge, district judge or magistrate and shall hold its investigation or inquiry with the assistance of 2 or more assessors who shall be appointed by the Chief Executive and shall be masters of the Hong Kong mercantile marine or persons of nautical, engineering or other special skill or knowledge:
Provided that where any investigation or inquiry involves or appears likely to involve any question as to the cancellation or suspension of the certificate of a master, mate or engineer the court shall be assisted by not less than 2 assessors having experience in the Hong Kong mercantile marine. (Replaced 37 of 1959 s. 9. Amended 76 of 1978 s. 81) 
(3)  The assessors appointed to such court shall be remunerated at a rate which shall take account of the amount of work and time occupied by them upon the business of the court and such remuneration shall be determined by the Chief Executive either generally from time to time or specifically in any particular case:
Provided that nothing in this subsection shall be construed to authorize the payment of remuneration to any person employed full time in any office of emolument under the Government. (Replaced 17 of 1965 s. 25) 
(Amended 64 of 1999 s. 3)[cf. 1894 c. 60 s. 478 U.K.]

### Merchant Shipping Ordinance 《商船條例》

54. Penalty for refusing to attend as a witness, etc.
Any person who refuses to attend as a witness before any person or court having the powers given by section 115 of the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance (Cap. 369), after having been required in the exercise of any such power to do so, or refuses or neglects to make any answer, or to give any return, or to produce any document in his possession, or to make or subscribe any declarations required by any such person or court in the exercise of any such power, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine at level 2.
(Added 44 of 1954 s. 3. Amended 73 of 1974 s. 12; 64 of 1999 s. 3; E.R. 3 of 2022)[cf. 1894 c. 60 s. 729(3) U.K.]