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Mr. Jolly advocated the change of the Harbour Department into a Directorate of Marine, which would be responsible for the day to day working of the Harbour from the marine point of view.
He expressed the opinion that a Port Commission might be set up as a Directing Body charged with the functions of the existing Port Executive Committee and the general control of the use of port facilities and also be responsible for the planning and execution of a development and reconstruction programme.
Mr. Jolly thought that the Director of Marine might be Chairman of the Port Commission and as such be the link between the Directorate, the Commission and the Government. He envisaged the ultimate development of the Commission into autonomous Trust owning and operating all the port facilities.
an.
As an alternative Mr. Jolly suggested that past deficiencies, which he attributed to the lack of a declared policy, might be remedied by Government drawing up a complete plan for Port development in its widest form and allocating priorities to the execution of approved works. He advocated the setting up of a strong Development Board to prepare this plan and would make the Port Engineer the Executive Officer of this Board for the execution of minor works and the supervision of authorized major schemes.
Problems arising in connection with port operation would, under this alternative, be dealt with either by a body similar to the Port Executive Committee, or by a Marine Department which would be represented on the Development Board.
Mr. Jolly sounded a warning that post-war shipping developments may render unnecessary any ambitious schemes. The point of this warning is emphasized by the
Colony's experiences in the past.'
13. Mr. Colman's suggestions as to alternatives to a Port Trust.
Mr. Colman suggested two alternatives to the proposals for a Port Trust as outlined by Sir David Owen:
(1) That for a Port Trust having only powers of control a full-time salaried Chairman would not be necessary and he would recommend a nominated official Chairman, i.e. an officer already in the service of Government.
(2) That a separate department should be set up in the Secretariat under a Secretary for Transportation who would control the Port, the Railway, Civil Aviation and Road Transport. Each of these sections would have a Director as its Administrative Head and would prepare its own budget and keep separate accounts.
Mr. Colman thought that the Port Director should be selected for his administrative ability rather than for technical knowledge as he would have subordinate to him a Chief Engineer and a Marine Officer.
Mr. Colman did not suggest that this would be an improvement on a Port Trust but he thought it would be better than a continuance of the present arrangements with another standing Advisory Committee.
14. The individual views of Members of the Committee.
The individual views of the members of the Committee are set out in the minutes of the sixth meeting, to which we would particularly invite attention, and in the annexure thereto containing copies of letters from the Hon. T. N. Chau and Mr. R. Y. Frost who were unable to be present at that meeting.
Particular attention is directed to the views expressed by the Hon. C. C. Roberts, with which there was a very great measure of accord.
The Committee was unanimously opposed to the establishment of a Port Trust.
15. The Committee's Conclusions and Recommendations.
The Committee has arrived at the following conclusions and makes the following recommendations:
(a) That, although certain advantages might accrue through the establishment of a Port Trust as recommended in the Report of Sir David Owen, principally in so far as matters of long-term policy might benefit from the continuity of corporate control, the scope of the Trust as envisaged by Sir David is insufficient to justify the expense which the establishment of such a body would undoubtedly involve and all requirements for the administration and control of the Port, including matters of long-term policy, can be met as adequately and satisfactorily by more simple means involving no expenditure. We accordingly recommend against the establishment of a Port Trust.