HKMLA - Shipping Laws in Hong Kong

Maritime Law in Hong Kong

Maritime law in Hong Kong evolves from two principal sources.

Ordinances

Ordinances are statutes enacted by Hong Kong's legislature. These can be viewed on the Bilingual Laws Information System, a website operated by the Hong Kong Department of Justice.

The main Ordinances relating to maritime matters are as follows:-

	CAP
Arbitration Ordinance	341
Bills of Lading and Analogous Shipping Documents Ordinance	440
Carriage of Goods by Sea Ordinance	462
Dumping at Sea Ordinance	466
Dutiable Commodities Ordinance	109
Ferry Services Ordinance	104
Freight Containers (Safety) Ordinance	506
Import and Export Ordinance	60
Marine Insurance Ordinance	329
Merchant Shipping (Collision Damage Liability and Salvage) Ordinance	508
Merchant Shipping (Liability and Compensation for Oil Pollution) Ordinance	414
Merchant Shipping (Limitation of Shipowners Liability) Ordinance	434
Merchant Shipping (Liner Conferences) Ordinance	482
Merchant Shipping (Local Vessels) Ordinance	548
Merchant Shipping Ordinance	281
Merchant Shipping (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Ordinance	413
Merchant Shipping (Registration) Ordinance	415
Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance	369
Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Ordinance	478
Nuclear Material (Liability for Carriage) Ordinance	479
Pilotage Ordinance	84
Port Control (Cargo Working Areas) Ordinance	81
Protection of the Harbour Ordinance	531
Sale of Goods Ordinance	26
Shipping and Port Control Ordinance	313
Stowaways Ordinance	83

Judgments handed down by the Hong Kong Courts

Judgments issued since 1993 can be viewed on the Judiciary website. Click here for link.

Many (although by no means all) of the judgments which relate to maritime law are handed down by Judges in Admiralty Actions or Commercial Actions.

Click here for link to judgments in Admiralty Actions issued since 1946.
Click here for link to judgments in Commercial Actions issued since 1977.