Hong Kong Ordinances

SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL ORDINANCE - SECT 12

Power to detain vessels

(Past version on 01/07/1997).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) Where-

   (a)  a vessel is refused permission to leave the waters of Hong Kong under
        section 11B; or (Amended 70 of 1999 s. 5)

   (b)  it is provided in this Ordinance that under specified conditions a
        vessel shall not leave any port or the waters of Hong Kong, the
        Director may take such steps as are necessary to detain the vessel in
        such port or waters.

(2) If the Director incurs any cost in detaining a vessel under subsection
(1), he may recover the cost-

   (a)  as a civil debt from the owner or master of the vessel; or

   (b)  under section 55 as if the cost represented port dues payable in
        respect of the vessel.

(3) Where any vessel not registered in Hong Kong is detained under subsection
(1), notice thereof shall be given to the consular officer for the State to
which the vessel belongs, and if there is no such consular officer to the
master of the vessel, and such notice shall specify the grounds on which the
vessel has been detained. (Amended 23 of 1998 s. 2)