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24
In accordance with Section 6, Sub-section 2, the Secretary of State has
arranged with the Port of London Sanitary Authority for the appointment
and employment of the Medical Officer of Health as a Medical Inspector under
this Act, with the services of the Assistant Medical Officers at Gravesend to
help him in the work of medical inspection.
An immigrant ship has been defined as any ship bringing more than
12 alien steerage passengers to be landed in the United Kingdom.
The expression "alien steerage passenger" includes all alien passengers
other than first-class passengers.
Every immigrant ship on arrival at Gravesend will have to " bring to " for
examination by the Medical Inspector in conjunction with the Immigration
Officer.
An examination will be made of all alien steerage passengers with a view
to determining—
1. Whether any of them are lunatics or idiots;
2. Whether, owing to disease or infirmity, any of them are likely to
become a charge upon the rates, or otherwise a detriment to the
public.
Should any such person be found, the Medical Inspector will sign a form
stating that, in his opinion, the passenger in question should not be allowed
to land for the reason stated. Such form will be handed to the Immigration
Officer, who will thereupon serve a notice upon the master of the vessel
informing him that the person mentioned on the form is not to be allowed to
land.
All such passengers, whether detained on medical or other grounds, have
to be kept on board the ship, but the master, owner or agent of the ship may
(and shall if required by an immigrant), within 24 hours after refusal of
leave to land, give written notice of appeal either to the Immigration Officer
or by delivering it at the nearest Custom House or Custom Watch House.
If any person lands or is allowed to land without permission, the person so
landing, and also the Master of the ship, is guilty of an offence under the Act,
and liable to a fine not exceeding 100/.
Persons detained have to be kept on board the ship, and if they appeal they
have to appear at the office of the Immigration Board, which is situated at
Brunswick Quay, Blackwall, they being conditionally disembarked for that
purpose.
The Immigration Board consists of twenty persons summoned in accordance
with the Regulation made by the Secretary of State, under the Aliens Act,
1905, out of a list provided by him for the Port, comprising fit persons
having magisterial, business or administrative experience.
A meeting of the Board must be held within 24 hours of the receipt of
notice to appeal, Sundays and Bank Holidays not being reckoned, consisting