Hong Kong Regulations

SHIPPING AND PORT CONTROL REGULATIONS - REGULATION 19

Speed of vessels

(Past version on 01/07/2000).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

(1) Without prejudice to paragraph (2), no high speed craft shall, when
underway in the waters of Hong Kong between half an hour after sunset and half
an hour before sunrise, proceed at a speed exceeding the maximum permitted
speed provided in paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule, except with the
permission in writing from the Director. (L.N. 51 of 1992)

(2) Every vessel underway in the waters of Hong Kong shall proceed with
caution and, unless the Director otherwise permits, at a speed not exceeding
the maximum permitted speed provided in paragraph 2 of the Fourth Schedule.

(3) Without prejudice to paragraphs (1) and (2), no vessel shall, when
underway in any restricted zone specified in the Eighteenth Schedule, between
the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 midnight, on any Saturday or public holiday or on
any day during the period from 1 July to 15 September (both dates inclusive)
in any year, proceed at a speed exceeding the maximum permitted speed provided
in paragraph 3 of the Fourth Schedule. (L.N. 107 of 2000)

(4) Without prejudice to paragraphs (1) and (2), no vessel shall, when
underway in the entrance to or within a typhoon shelter specified in the
Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) (Typhoon Shelters) Regulation ( Cap  548
sub. leg. E), proceed at a speed exceeding the maximum permitted speed
provided in paragraph 4 of the Fourth Schedule. (L.N. 107 of 2000; 24 of 2005
s. 55)

(5) If without reasonable excuse, paragraph (1), (2), (3) or (4) is
contravened, the master of the vessel commits an offence and is liable in the
case of a contravention of-

   (a)  paragraph (1) or (2), to a fine at level 3 and to imprisonment for 6
        months;

   (b)  paragraph (3), to a fine at level 1;

   (c)  paragraph (4), to a fine at level 2. (L.N. 107 of 2000)

(6) In this regulation, "high speed craft" (高速船) has the meaning
assigned to it by the Merchant Shipping (Safety) (High Speed Craft) 
Regulation ( Cap 369 sub. leg. AW). (L.N. 107 of 2000)

(L.N. 107 of 2000)

"high speed craft" (高速船)