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Sir David did not in this review criticize the system of the
grant of pier leases or the provision of piers thereunder by
private enterprise, though at a later stage of his report
(paragraph 72) he pointed out that the piers for the ooasting and
river services were not in a satisfactory state as to their
accommodation and that many of them had been allowed to get into
bad condition.
No criticism was levelled at the provision of warehousing
and godown accommodation by private enterprise and that provided
by the major concerns was referred to as up-to-date and excellent,
and at a later stage of his report (paragraph 70) Sir David
remarked that he was struck by the lowness of the charges the
principal Godown Companies were able to make.
Ship-building and ship-repairing facilities the author
regarded as excellent and he showed that there were large, and
presumably sufficient, oil installations.
Sir David considered that the railway undertaking had ample
port facilities and did not expect that the necessity for more
facilities would arise for some years.
In regard to road facilities as related to the Port, Sir Davið
said there did not seem much to complain of except for congestion
He did, on the praya from the Naval Yard to Wing Lok Street.
however, envisage the need for widening and improving the road to the
frontier as road transport into China increased.
The existing ferry services evoked no adverse comment.
The report sets out in detail the mooring buoys and the
navigational lights and buoys and gives no hint of any inadequacy
in provision, mismanagement or excessive charges.
This portion of Sir David's report appears to demonstrate that
private enterprise and Government between them had provided all that
was necessary and that there was little, if any, need for development, and in a later paragraph (paragraph 65) Sir David endorses this view
when, after commenting on the little control or administration on the