Minutes of the Second Meeting of the Hong Kong Port Consultative Committee held at the Colonial Office
at 2.30 p.m. on 13th December, 1945.
Proзent:
Mr. N.L. Smith, C.M.G. Chairman.
Mr. S.B.E. Kolderry, O.M. G.
Mr. S.H. Dʊdmall
Mr. H.J. Keswick
Mr. A. Lang
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Mr. J. Masson
Kr. Warren Swizə
Mr. C. Wurtzburg, M.C.
Sir Mark Young, K.C.M.G. and Mr. A. Reid (M.F.T.) also attended this meeting.
1. Minutes
With the consent of the Meeting the minutes of the first moeting held on the 15th November, 1945, which had been circulated to the mambers, were taken as read.
2. Allocation of the Harbour Masters' Functions
A memorandum dated 10th December 1945 submitted by the Secretary and circulated to nambers of the Committee was considered and the following amendments of allocation of duties suggested at page three of that memoran- dum werc agreed.
(a) The second function to be amended to read "Registry of River Vessels' and to be the responsibility of the Morcantile Marine Office.
(b) The heading "Licensing of Launches, Lighters and Junks" to bo altered by the addition of "and registration" after "Lioensing”.
(o) The reference to immigration fees to be døletod.
(d) The duties in connection with the Marine Court and Courts of Inquiry to be the responsibility of the Mercantile Marine Office and not of the Port Trust.
3. Renewal of the Star Ferry Lease.
Mr. W.J. Keswick, who declared his interest in the matter, said that he strongly disagreed with the views expressed by Mr. Nicol in his memorandum dated 26th September which was considered at the first mesting of the Committee. He believed that a tunnel, even on the basis of an estimated cost of 16,000,000 dollars would be too expensive, and further, that it would not be a satisfactory solution of the transport problem as i' would take many people out of their way. He did not agree with Hr.Nicol that larger ferries, which would carry appreciably more people would rende navigation in the harbour more difficult. Mr. Kerrick said that action wąs being taken to rehabilitate the ferries on the strength of the assurance by the Colonial Office that the renewal of the Star Ferry pier lease would be recommended, and that if that was not now the Government's intention, early advice should be given to the Company.
The Chairman said he had seen the papers referred to and he was satisfied that there was no reason why the Star Ferry Co. should cancel or delay their rehabilitation programme; he confirmed that it was still intended to recomend the renewal of the pier lease but on terms bringing that concern more closely into line in the matter of royalties with other