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I have read this draft Bill and I put up an
amended draft, after discussion with Mr. Colman, Mr.
Melmoth, and Mr. North. It must be observed that
this draft can only be described, as Mr. Colman says,
as a "Tentative draft prepared for discussion of
principles." The original draft was prepared by
the Chairman designate and his Secretary, and it has
been examined by a Committee. I have felt, therefore,
that I ought to follow the draft as nearly as
possible.
2. I agree that the whole matter should be re-
considered. So far as I can see, the main ground
in the Owen Report in favour of establishing a Port
Trust is that most of the great ports in the
United Kingdom and the Empire have some form of
Trust, and Sir David Owen instances London, Liverpool,
Calcutta and Sydney, among others. (Para. 82 of
his Report.) But the position in those great ports
appears to me to be entirely different from the
position in Hong Kong. In Hong Kong, as Sir David
remarks (para. 69) "the Harbour is the Colony and
the Colony is the Harbour." If, then, the Harbour
is to be handed over to a Trust, it might be as
well to hand over with it whatever remains of the
Colony.
3. Sir David states (para. 70) that he is struck
with the lowness of the charges, which are lower than
those at any other ports of which he has knowledge.
So far as can be gathered, the administration of
the port has been satisfactory in the past, and it
is submitted that it might be left under the
control of a department of the Government in the
future.
A. Jumell.
27th June, 1946.