Miss Rusten
28
HK.x Kowloom
wharf Co), in J.F. Landale
Recireed vide
further action of 39.
Boyle
14/4/95
A meting was held in Mr. Cent's room on Thursday, 9th August, to give 12. Colman an opportunity of meeting representatives of the principal users of the port of Hong Kong. There were present Mr. MacDougall and Ir. Rouse (Hong Kong Planning Unit); Ir. Alan Reid, Jardnies) (ning of war Transport);r. A.0.Lang (P. & 0.); Mr. Carter (Jardines); Dr. Wurtzburg (Holts); Mr. C. V. Swire (Butterfields); anu KG. Dotyell (Dodwells).
Dosyellow).
2.
Gorce
F.H.
There was some general discussion of the proposal to set up a port Trust on the lines recommended by Sir David Owen and general agreement was expressed with that proposal. It was also agreed that, quite apart from the delays which will inevitably arise owing to the necessity for local legislation, etc., the setting up of the Trust should not be unduly rushed, even after the restoration of Civil Government in Hong Kong.
3.
HZ. Alan Reid gave a general outline of the various phases in the control of liberated ports and the arrangements for the gradual transfer from service control to normal civil administration. It was agreed that, if possible, Mr. Colman should be present in Hong Kong and closely associated with the various phases of the control; but that he should be there in his capacity as Chairman- designate of the port Trust and that he should not participate in the work of the Port Executive Committee as a representative of the Civil Affairs Administration; but that that administration should have its o representative on the Port Executive Committee. In the general discussion on the arrangements for the administration of the port during the military period, the only point of sufficient importance to record is that it would be desirable for the Civil Affairs Administration to have a salvage expert on its staff whose function would be to prepare the way for more extensive salvage work than is likely to be carried out by the Admiralty, as soon as equipment for more general purposes becomes available.
4.
It was explained that the intention was to set up an Advisory Committee to assist Mr. Colman in his work of planning for the rehabilitation of the port, and that it was felt that there would be useful work for such a Committce to do in London, even though Mr. Colman would himself be in Basrah until the late Autumn. The proposal to set up this Committee would, however, have to be referred to the new Secretary of State.
5.
(The meeting recorded above was, of course, held before the news of the Japanese surrender and this development will, of course, mean that Ir. Colman will not himself be able to be present in Hong Kong during the earlier stages of the control of the port by the Port Executive Committee. The arrangements previously contemplated will, therefore, require further consideration in the light of the new situation).
&. Pasuin
th August, 1945