Hong Kong Ordinances

MERCHANT SHIPPING (LOCAL VESSELS) ORDINANCE - SECT 26

Closure of waters

(1) Where the Director reasonably believes that it is necessary in the
interests of safety to close any area of the waters of Hong Kong to all
vessels, or to any vessel belonging to any class, type or description of
vessel, he may, by notice in the Gazette, close that area to such vessels or
vessel, as the case may be.

(2) A notice under subsection (1) which has not been repealed, or which has
not expired, on or before the effluxion of the period of 6 months immediately
following the day on which it is published in the Gazette shall expire on the
day immediately following that period.

(3) It is hereby declared that a notice under subsection (1)-

   (a)  is subsidiary legislation;

   (b)  may be in the same terms as another notice under that subsection where
        that first-mentioned notice is to come into operation upon or after
        the expiration of that second-mentioned notice;

   (c)  shall not apply to any vessel which is being used for any fire
        services, ambulance, police, customs and excise or Marine Department
        purpose if compliance with the notice is likely to hinder the use of
        that vessel for that purpose.

(4) If without reasonable excuse a vessel the subject of a notice under
subsection (1) enters an area of the waters of Hong Kong the subject of that
notice, the coxswain of the vessel commits an offence and is liable on
conviction to a fine at level 3 and to imprisonment for 6 months.