Hong Kong Ordinances

MERCHANT SHIPPING (LOCAL VESSELS) ORDINANCE - SECT 58

Duty to report fires on local vessel

(1) Where-

   (a)  a fire occurs on board a local vessel within the waters of Hong Kong;
        or

   (b)  a local vessel which is on fire arrives within the waters of Hong
        Kong, the owner of the vessel, his agent or the coxswain shall report
        such occurrence or arrival forthwith to the Director of Fire Services.

(2) The Director of Fire Services and any member of the Fire Services
Department of or above the rank of Principal Fireman may, at any time of day
or night, board any local vessel in the waters of Hong Kong for the purpose of
extinguishing a fire on board the vessel whether or not the fire has been
reported to the Director of Fire Services, and may take with him such persons
as may be necessary to assist him for such purpose.

(3) The owner of a local vessel, his agent or the coxswain who without
reasonable excuse fails to comply with subsection (1) commits an offence and
is liable on conviction to a fine at level 3.