Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (INSTRUCTIONS TO SURVEYORS) (PASSENGER SHIPS) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 82

Distress signals

The prescribed signals of distress, to be used either together or separately
are-

(1) In the daytime:

   (a)  A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute;

   (b)  The International Code signal of distress (i.e., the signal N C);

   (c)  The distance signal, consisting of a square flag, having either above
        or below it a ball or anything resembling a ball;

   (d)  A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus.

(2) At night:

   (a)  A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute;

   (b)  Flames on the vessel (as from a burning tar-barrel, oil-barrel, etc.);

   (c)  Rockets or shells, throwing stars of any colour or description, fired
        one at a time, at short intervals;

   (d)  A continuous sounding with any fog-signal apparatus.

(3) In the daytime or at night: The morse sign S 0 S made by radiotelegraphy
or any other distance
signalling method, or the spoken word "May-day" sent by radiotelephony. (The
alarm signal, i.e., the wireless signal employed to actuate the auto-alarm of
ships so fitted, has also been prescribed as a distress signal).