C.L.
Gov.
53995/39
ILL
چہ
2. P= J. Northcote
2
3.339
Bo.
25.7.39
* But these rights are surely not a consequence of The reclamation schemes. the aratically, they high must have derived from the leases of existed all along af
matter
of equity
a
The schemes only brought out the tad of their existence? They will clearly
Lapse in 1949 at latest.
NYSA.
-
In the past the development of the port of
Hong Kong has been left almost entirely to private
enterprise (apart, of course, from the construction
of the Canton Kowloon railway and its linking up with the Canton-Hankow line), and Mr. Nicol's report,
which forms enclosure 2 to this despatch, presents a
summary picture of the port as it is today.
Briefly stated, the position is that
numerous piers of greatly varying design and utility
have been constructed around the port to serve
particular trades. Of these the reat majority are
privately owned, and are either leased as permanent
piers, in which case the rights are due to expire
on December 31st, 1949, or else they are leased on
annual licences as temporary piers: and in this case
the licences may at any time be cancelled by Govern-
ment without compensation on due notice being given.
The successive reclamation schemes for building
purposes have given rise to what are termed Marine
existence
X
frontage rights, and the extent of these schemes
which are entertained by Government has made it
impossible to develop the harbour frontage to its
best advantage, for the knowledge that heavy com-
pensation might have to be met has at times deterred
Government