雇佣救助合同的概念及其法律后果。

事实

      The "Gabriel", owned by Achilleas C. Grosso Investment Corporation（hereinafter referred to as Achilleas）, is a Greek tanker carrying 54.580 tons of Cabinda crude oil. On August 12, 2011, around 05:00, it ran aground near the northern waterway of the Qiongzhou Strait, placing the ship and its cargo in danger and posing a severe threat to maritime environmental safety. Achilleas authorized Andros (Hong Kong) Limited's Shanghai representative office(hereinafter referred to as the Shanghai office) to engage the South China Sea Rescue Bureau to salvage the "Gabriel" after the incident occurred.  Then Achilleas requested the South China Sea Rescue Bureau to send two tugs to participate in salvage. At 20:40 on August 12, the Shanghai office submitted a letter of authorization via email to the South China Sea Rescue Bureau, entrusting them to dispatch "South China Sea Rescue 116" and "South China Sea Rescue 101" to assist the "Gabriel" in refloating.  Achilleas agreed to pay a rate of 3,2 yuan per horsepower-hour for the South China Sea Rescue Bureau regardless of the success of the operation. They also agreed that "South China Sea Rescue 116" and "South China Sea Rescue 101" would only implement towing operations and they are not liable for any other damage or loss to the vessel during the rescuing of the "Gabriel". Concurrently, to prevent further marine pollution, the Zhanjiang Maritime Safety Administration of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as Zhanjiang MSA) decided to implement compulsory lightering measures for the "Gabriel". In the end, "South China Sea Rescue 116" did not engage in towing operations for the "Gabriel", and "South China Sea Rescue 101" was recalled by the South China Sea Rescue Bureau before reaching the incident place, without conducting any towing or other operations. Later, "South China Sea Rescue 201" was dispatched for the rescue. On August 18, the "Gabriel" successfully refloated during high tide and subsequently arrived safely at its destination, Qinzhou Port in Guangxi.

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      The South China Sea Rescue Bureau alleged that after the "Gabriel" ran aground in the Qiongzhou Strait, they were engaged by Achilleas to provide rescue, transportation, and escort services, but the Achilleas had not paid for salvage services. They requested the court to order the Achilleas and  Shanghai office to jointly pay rescue fees amounting to 7.240.998,24 yuan and interests.

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On March 28, 2014, the Guangzhou Maritime Court issued a civil judgment named (2012) Guanghai Fa Chuzi No. 898. The Achilleas should pay the South China Sea Rescue Bureau rescue remuneration of 6.592.913,58 yuan and interests;​

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      The Achilleas then appealed. On June 16, 2015, the Higher People's Court of Guangdong Province issued a civil judgment named (2014) Yue Gao Fa Min Si Zhong No. 117，which revoked the judgment of the Guangzhou Maritime Court (2012) Guanghai Fa Chuzi No. 898. and ruled that Achilleas C. Grosso Investment Corporation should pay the South China Sea Rescue Bureau rescue remuneration of 2.561.346,93 yuan and interests. Dissatisfied with the second-instance judgment, the South China Sea Rescue Bureau applied for a retrial.

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