5
6
This matter was discussed at a meeting in Mr. Gent's room on Friday the 9th March and the
breached at the meeting are set out in the note at No. 5 on this file, (of which I have sent a copy to Mr. Thompson of the Hong Kong Planning Unit).
I now submit for authority to proceed on the lines indicated in the minute of the meeting.
14/3.
5/3
Sir G. Gater.
In 1940 at the request of the Hong Kong Government Sir David Owen, an ex-Chairman of the Port of London Authority, went out to Hong Kong on a special mission to advise the Colonial Government on the question of the organisation and administration of the Port of Hong Kong (one of the considerable ports of the world), having regard to the existing system of pier leases which were all due to expire in 1949.
The Port of Hong Kong was not under the control of a Port Authority as in London or Singapore, but was under the direct control of the Government. Navigation within the port was under the Harbour Master and his Department, but the engineering side was a section of the Department of Public Works. The Government P.W.D. carried out the necessary harbour works but the construction and equipment of piers, etc. for the use of commercial shipping and import and export firms was left to private enter- prise, the Government merely leasing the necessary land. The Government had for some years taken steps to arrange for all these commercial leases to have when necessary such moderate extensions as would bring all the leases to an end in 1949, and had invited an expert in the personage of Sir David Owen to report, in effect, as to whether it was desirable to make a change in the organisation so as to place the port under a public authority operating semi- independently of any Government Department.
file.
A copy of his report is at No.1 in this The Government of Hong Kong in August 1941 sent home their recommendations (No. 7 in 53995/1/41) and in substance recommended the adoption of Sir David Owen's proposals which are summarised on pages 24 26 of his report. The chief recommenda- tion was the establishment of a Hong Kong Harbour Trust with an independent Chairman of good experience in port management.
As all the pier etc. leases expire in 1949 it is obvious that a policy decision must be taken with a view to deciding whose will be the responsibility for restoration when Hong Kong is liberated. The view of the Department after discussion, is to go ahead with the selection, if possible, of a personage who possesses the qualifica- tions as prospective Chairman of a Hong Kong Port
Trust