A
X
Y
16A
25
I have never been convinced of the case for setting up a Port Trust in Hong Kong, and I think that we should have no hesitation in accepting the recommendation in favour of abandoning the proposal to establish a Port Trust. This is unanimously recommended by the Committee, comprising wide official and unofficial interests, which the Governor appointed to go into the whole question, and is endorsed by the Governor.
I think too that we should accept the recommendation for the formation of a Port Committee to ensure the necessary co-ordination between the Government Departments concerned with the port and the necessary representation of the shipping and other interests concerned. This is, in fact, the method which was quoted, as an example, in the Secretary of State's telegram of the 6th June (No.3). That telegram went on to suggest, however, that local consultations might lead the Governor to put forward proposals which would involve an even wider measure of public responsibility for the port. It is not clear how far the local Committee went into the possibility of providing an even wider measure of public responsibility for the port. I would make acceptance of this recommendation subject to its being reviewed in, say, two years' time, in the light of the experience gained of its working and with particular reference to the question whether it does provide the widest possible measure of public responsibility for the port compatible with the conditions in Hong Kong.
I have no comments on the Committee's recommendation regarding the terms of reference of the Port Committee, but as regards their recommenda- tion relating to its constitution, I should have thought that it was desirable that two Chinese members and a representative of the labour interests
should be definitely included. It is true that the Committee suggests that there should be a second Chinese member and that a Chinese representative of stevedoring interests would be a valuable addition to the Committee, but the Governor does not comment on this suggestion. I should have thought too that it was desirable that the Harbour Master should be the Chairman of this Committee, and that it should not be left to the Committee to appoint its own Chairman. For convenience of reference, I have had the Committee's recommendations on the constitution and terms of reference of the Port Committee copied out and placed on top of this file.
The other recommendation of the Committee which the Governor endorses in his despatch is the one in favour of relieving the Harbour Master of his duties as Marine Magistrate. This would not relieve the Harbour Master of those functions which he has hitherto discharged in relation to Marine Courts and Courts of Survey in Part V of the Merchant Shipping Ordinance, 1899. The Communications Department should be asked whether they have any comments on this recommendation before we reply to the Governor.
According to the despatch, the Governor has taken a final decision on the Committee's recommendations discussed above. This is rather awkward, as we ought to give the Admiralty and the
Ministry