which ward ben
proposer
Mr. Cohen and Mr. A. Reid of the Ministry of War Transport met Mr. Gent, Mr. Caine, Mr. Mayle, Mr. MacDougall, Mr. Rouse and myself today to consider the possibility of securing the services of Mr. Coleman as Chairman of the proposed Hong Kong Harbour Trust.
It was agreed that decisions would have to be taken on a number of important issues during the next 12 months in connection with Hong Kong Harbour, and that therefore it was most desirable that Mr. Coleman should be available before the beginning of 1947. Mr. Reid explained that the Ministry of War Transport felt bound to press for Mr. Coleman's retention in Iraq until the time when agreement had been reached, in principle, at any rate, with the Iraqi Government, proposals concerning a Conservancy Board in that country. He agreed however, that the M.W.T. should recommend to the Foreign Office that Mr. Coleman should not be committed to the further 12 months' contract with the Iraqi Government, but that his present contract with them should be extended on a month to month basis. Once agreement had been reached in principle with the Iraqi Government, the M.W.T. might feel able to recommend that Mr. Coleman should be release. It was possible that agreement would be reached by the Autumn, but of course no firm date could be given.
It was agreed that an official corresponding to a Secretary to the Trust would ultimately be required and it was proposed that a suitable man should be sought now who could act as number two to Mr. Coleman, work with the latter during his four months' leave from July and be available for advising the Hong Kong Planning Unit during the period of Mr. Coleman's return to Iraq. The aifficulty of finding a number two was, however, almost as great as finding a Chairman, and it was a matter on which Mr. Coleman himself would probably have views. It was therefore agreed that the next step should be for an approach to be made to Mr. Coleman to ascertain his own reaction to the proposed offer to him and then to seek his advice as to the practicability of the plan proposed. Mr. Cohen expects to leave for India about the middle of May, and it was agreed that he should see Mr. Coleman in Iraq on the way and put these matters to him if it had not been possible to arrange for Mr. Coleman to pay a flying visit to this country before then. Mr. Reid undertook to take up with the Foreign Office this latter possibility which would of course be preferable.
Mr. Reid also undertook meanwhile to approach the War Office in regard to the possibility of securing the release of someone qualified to fill the number two post. An approach to the Dock and Harbour Association was suggested, but it was thought that this was not likely to be very fruitful and might be left until other possible sources had failed.
The names of Mr. Carter (recently in charge of the Port of Lagos) and Mr. Duncan Kennedy (who accompanied Sir David Owen on the visit to Hong Kong in 1941 and assisted in the resulting report) were
suggested
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