The ships officers in the event of collision would be fully occupied with their respective duties - and therefore unable to attend to the unlocking of the grilles. If -the: jquards had keys it is unlikely that they would have sufficient presence lof mind or sufficient initiative to do anything of use. In some steamers. which come within the purview of ithe Regulations there are something ike 30 locks to unfasten before all the grilles can be opened. No means' jof releasing bolts simultaneously is {feasible in ships of the class concerned. Furthermore owing to the grilles the crews of these vessels would have the greatest difficulty in getting to the boats themselves. In the event of an outbreak of fire or a collision and a serious loss of life loceurring owing to passengers being penned below, who would be held responsible: the Hongkong Government who framed the Regulations jor the Owners and their Officers, who were compeled to carry them lout?
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.