### Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance 《商船(海員)條例》

98. Complaints about provisions or water
(1) If a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship considers that the provisions or water provided for the seafarers employed in that ship are not in accordance with regulations made under section 96 (whether because of bad quality, unfitness for use or deficiency in quantity), the seafarer may complain to the master of the ship, who shall investigate the complaint.
(2) If a seafarer who has made a complaint referred to in subsection (1) is dissatisfied with the action taken by the master of the ship concerned as a result of the master’s investigation or with the master’s failure to take any action, the seafarer may state the dissatisfaction to the master and may claim to complain to the Superintendent, and the master, on receiving the claim, shall make adequate arrangements to enable the seafarer to do so as soon as practicable.
(2A) Despite subsection (1), a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship may complain to the Superintendent directly on a subject matter referred to in that subsection. (Added 16 of 2013 s. 58)
(3) The Superintendent upon receipt of a complaint under subsection (2) or (2A) shall investigate the complaint and may examine the provisions or water provided for seafarers in the ship concerned or cause them to be examined.
(4) The master of a ship who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2 and, where he has been notified in writing by the Superintendent after making an examination under subsection (3) that any provisions or water in that ship are found to be unfit for use or not of the quality required by regulations made under section 96, then—
(a) if such provisions and water are not replaced within a reasonable time, the master, owner and charterer, and the agent of the owner or charterer, of the ship each commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3 unless he proves that the failure to replace them was not due to his neglect or default; and
(b) if the master of the ship, without reasonable excuse, permits such provisions and water to be used, then he commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3.
(5) This section does not affect the right of a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship to make a complaint on a subject matter referred to in subsection (1) in accordance with the procedures for handling complaints adopted on board the ship. (Added 16 of 2013 s. 58)
(Amended 16 of 2013 s. 58)

### Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance 《商船(海員)條例》

99. Complaints about conditions on ships, seafarers’ employment, etc.
(Replaced 16 of 2013 s. 59)(1) Where a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship considers that he has cause to complain about any other seafarer employed in the ship, any conditions on board the ship or anything relating to the seafarer’s employment, he may complain to the master of the ship.
(2) Where a seafarer who has made a complaint referred to in subsection (1) is dissatisfied with the action taken by the master of the ship on the complaint or with the master’s failure to take any action, the seafarer may state the dissatisfaction to the master and may claim to complain to the Superintendent, and the master, on receiving the claim, shall make adequate arrangements to enable the seafarer to do so as soon as practicable.
(2A) Despite subsection (1), a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship may complain to the Superintendent directly on a subject matter referred to in that subsection. (Added 16 of 2013 s. 59)
(3) The Superintendent upon receipt of a complaint under subsection (2) or (2A) shall investigate the complaint.
(4) The master of a ship who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine at level 2.
(5) This section does not affect the right of a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship to make a complaint on a subject matter referred to in subsection (1) in accordance with the procedures for handling complaints adopted on board the ship. (Added 16 of 2013 s. 59)
(Amended 16 of 2013 s. 59)

100. Medical stores
(1) The Secretary for Transport and Logistics may make regulations requiring Hong Kong ships, or such descriptions of Hong Kong ships as are specified, to carry such medicines and other medical stores (including books containing instructions and advice) as are specified, and such regulations may make different provision for different circumstances. (Amended L.N. 106 of 2002; L.N. 130 of 2007; L.N. 144 of 2022)
(2) (Repealed 16 of 2013 s. 60)

101. Medical treatment on board ship
Where a Hong Kong ship does not carry a medical practitioner among the seafarers employed in it the master of the ship shall make arrangements for securing that any medical attention on board the ship is given either by him or under his supervision by a person appointed by him for the purpose.

### Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance 《商船(海員)條例》

102. Expenses of medical treatment, etc. during voyage
(1) Where a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship receives outside Hong Kong any surgical or medical treatment or such dental or optical treatment (including the repair or replacement of any appliance) as cannot be postponed without impairing efficiency, the reasonable expenses thereof shall be borne by his employer and, if the seafarer dies while so employed and is buried or cremated outside Hong Kong, the expenses of his burial or cremation shall also be borne by his employer. (Amended 16 of 2013 s. 61)
(2) Subsection (1) does not limit the responsibility of the employer of a seafarer employed in a Hong Kong ship to provide, under regulations made under this Ordinance, other medical care in respect of any sickness or injury suffered by the seafarer in the course of or arising from the seafarer’s employment. (Added 16 of 2013 s. 61)

103. Medical inspection
The master of a Hong Kong ship before employing any seafarer may require that the seafarer shall be medically examined by a medical practitioner or, if he is of the opinion that a seafarer employed in the ship may be medically unfit for such employment, require such a seafarer to be inspected by such a practitioner.