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pier sites and were instructed, when dealing with the matter, to bear in mind the opinion expressed by the Colonial Secretary and the Harbour Master at a meeting of the Town Planning Committee, to the following effect :-
(a) In future the Government should not alienate any more of the Harbour frontage for the erection of private piers for the purpose of dealing with ocean-borne merchandise.
(b) In future the Government should erect, maintain and administer all piers.
designed to accommodate ocean-going steamers.
(c) The Government should pursue a policy of acquiring and thereafter adminis- tering existing piers, with however certain exceptions such as those of the Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company, and Messrs. Alfred Holt & Company.
(d) Whenever opportunity arises, the Government should acquire existing ferry pier sites, and in future all new ferry piers should be erected and maintained by the Government.
33. The Report made certain recommendations in accordance with this policy, it being emphasized that these recommendations were made on the clear under- standing "that the Government would exercise its rights in 1949 and take possession of all existing pier sites", the leasing of which might hinder such policy of Harbour frontage development as might be decided upon, and it was suggested that the Government should notify all lessees of such piers and pier sites that their leases would not be renewed after 1949.
34. The Report gave some arguments, in support of the recommendations, apparent to the effect that private enterprise was in the least favourable position to meet the needs of a growing Port while the Government with its own system of administration would be in the best position with a free hand to develop the frontage on systematic lines.
was
35. Whatever may be said on the merits or demerits of these arguments, a definite line of policy was suggested but I cannot find that the pier lessees were notified. It was naturally a difficult question with which the Government faced. It is a fact, however, that the Government did in one case at least, refuse an extension of lease pending a general investigation into the question of policy in relation to the Harbour, and many of the leaseholders are under the impression that the Government does not intend to renew the leases.
36. It may be mentioned that the average total annual rentals paid to the Government during the past three years for the permanent and temporary piers amounts to $43,600.
37. WAREHOUSES OR GODOWNS.-Having regard to the nature of the trade of Hong Kong there is need for a good deal of warehousing or godown accommodation and this also has been provided by private enterprise. The godowns are all privately owned, some of them, particularly those of the Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company, Limited, and Messrs. Alfred Holt & Company, (Messrs. Butter- field & Swire, Agents), being most up-to-date and excellent for their purpose.
38. It is estimated that there is a total storage capacity in the Port for about 1,000,000 tons of goods. The three largest Godown Companies have a storage capacity of roughly 100,000 on the Hong Kong side and 400,000 on the Kowloon side, the balance being divided up between numerous native-owned premises of smaller capacity in both places.
39. The godowns are constructed on land leased from the Government mostly for periods of 75 years with the option of renewal for another 75 years, while the piers in front of the godowns are under the leases already referred to, which expire at the end of 1949. As the godowns are not of much use without the piers, the difficulty of the pier problem will be appreciated.
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