1926

CHINESE EMIGRATION IN BRITISH SHIPS
Emigration
Under the Imperial Chinese Passengers’ Act, 1855, any vessel clearing with more
than twenty Asiatics on a voyage of more than seven days’ duration is a Chinese
passenger ship.
Proclamations of 26th January, 1856, and 17th November, 1858, declare the
length of certain voyages.
Ordinance 1 of 1889, Sections 3 and 4, give the legal definition of a voyage.
Section 46 of the same Ordinance provides that all ships proceeding on a voyage
of not more than thirty days’ duration shall be subject to the regulations contained
in the following Schedule : —
1. No ship shall clesr out or proceed to sea unless the master thereof shall have
received from an Emigration Officer a copy of these regulations and a certificate in the
form contained in schedule K, nor until the master shall have entered into the bond
prescribed by Section IV. of “The Chinese Passengers’ Act, 1855.”.
2. No Emigration Officers shall be bound to give such certificate till seven days
after receiving an application in writing for the same from the owners or charterers
of the ship, or, if absent, from their respective agents, specifying the name of the ship,
her tonnage, the port of destination, the proposed day of departure, the number of
passengers intended to be carried, and whether such passengers or any of them are
under contracts of service.
3. After receiving such application, the Emigration Officer, and any person
authorized by him in that behalf shall be at liberty at all times to enter and inspect
the ship, and the fittings, provisions, and stores therein, and any person impeding
such entry or inspection, or refusing to allow of the same, shall be liable to a fine
not exceeding one hundred dollars for each offence.
4. The following conditions as to the accommodation of passengers shall be
observed to the satisfaction of the Emigration Officer :—
(1) The space appropriated to the passengers between decks shall be properly
ventilated, and shall contain at the least 9 superficial and 54 cubical feet
of space for every adult on board; that is to say, for every passenger
above twelve years of age, and for every two passengers between the
ages of one and twelve years. The height between decks shall be at
least six feet.
(2) The accommodation for female passengers between decks shall be separate
from that provided for male passengers.
(3) A space of four superficial feet per adult shall be left clear on the upper
deck for the use of the passengers.
(4) A reasonable space shall be set apart properly divided and fitted up as
a sick bay, and sufficient latrines, both as to condition and number, shall
be provided in suitable parts of the ship.
5. The Emigration Officer may, in his discretion, permit deck passengers to
be carried, upon such conditions as may, from time to time, be prescribed
under instructions from one of Her Majesty’s Principal Secretaries of State, and
until and subject to such instructions upon the conditions following :—
(1) A suitable awning with screen shall be provided on deck, sufficient for
the protection of the passengers from the sun and from rain.
(2) The space appropriated to such deck passengers shall contain at the
least sixteen superficial feet for every adult, that is to say, for every