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APPENDIX 11.
REPORT ON GODOWN ACCOMMODATION.
This survey of Godowns has been restricted to "Public Warehouses" and does not take into consideration the numerous small private warehouses belonging to Chinese firms, nor specialist godowns such as B.A.T., I.C.I., Shell Co., and so on.
2. The total pre-war Godown Accommodation for normal port working appears to have been about 400,000 tons, of which approx. 95,000 tons (24%) has been destroyed, Accommodation exists for about 305,000 tons.
3. Of this, the Custodian of Property controls or occupies about 115,000 tons, chiefly on the Island, and the Services and Administration another 45,000 tons. Commercial storage is about 20,000 tons, and vacant space exists for another 125,000 tons.
The occupation is, however, changing continuously and the above figures only hold true for the date of survey. The Custodian of Property is now releasing cargo for sale by auction and this will progressively reduce his holdings. The Services also are gradually transferring their stores to other locations. The attached appendices show the location of the various main Godown areas.
4. It is estimated that the Port Working necessitates the accommodation, at present, of some 3,000 tons per day, which is expected to rise to 6,000 tons per day.
As the pre- war lighter fleet is gradually replaced, so will the need for godown space increase. Within 12 months, the volume should rise to 12,000 tons per day.
5. The time that cargoes remain in public warehouses varies very considerably. As a guide, it is estimated that one third is cleared within seven days, and the balance within three weeks. This implies that accommodation is required for about 16 days supply; this at present is 48,000 tons, within six months 96,000 and within twelve months 200,000 tons. If these forecasts, which cannot be checked, are accurate, it would appear that there is sufficient godown space for present needs.
6. It should, however, be noted that much of the available space is Storage space on upper floors, and that only 60,000 tons of transit space exists with reasonable wharf facilities. Lack of such facilities materially reduces the speed (and increases the cost) of discharge of ships.
7. There is likely to be an increased demand for storage space in future, and the 95,000 tons of destroyed accommodation will require rebuilding. The cost of new godown accommodation in 1940-41 was about $80-$110 per ton. If this rebuilding occurs in 1947-1948, the cost is estimated at about $20,000,000.
TRANSIT:-Tons
Kowloon
Holts
Appendix A
TABLE OF GODOWN ACCOMMODATION.
State as at March, 1946
Location
Total Pre-war 1941- Tous 1945.
Destroyed Existing
Remarks
Tons.
Kowloon Wharves
17,000 NIL
38,000 8,000
17,000
Yaumati
West Point
30,000 New Transit Shed demolished
in assault. Dec. 1941.
1,000
NIL
1,000 Dangerous goods Storage.
Kowloon Wharves
6,000 NIL
6,000 Only one Wharf in this area
is serviceable (China Merchants Wharf)
China Provident
China Navigation
Various Chinese
20,000 NIL
20,000
4,000
20,000 NIL
NIL
4,000
20,000
Belchers Point
China Provident
25,000
25,000
NIL
Destroyed in attacks on Belchers Fort.
40
—
(Signed) S. ERIK FABER,
W/Cdr.
S.O. I C.A. (Wks.) P.A.T.
26. 3. 46.
Kennedy Town
China Provident
15,000
Kowloon Wharves
Various Chinese
NIL
2,000 NIL
20,000 12,000
15,000
2,000
8,000
Totals
168,000 45,000
123,000
Percentage of Pre-war Transit Space destroyed=26.8%
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