MEMORANDUM ON THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATION
OF THE
PORT OF HONG KONG
9.7
PART I
HISTORICAL AND INTRODUCTORY
1. Several schemes for the development of the Harbour and Port of Hong Kong have been devised. After the war of 1914-18 a fresh impetus was given, a Sub-Department of the Public Works Department created, and later a separate department, the Port Development instituted under Mr. John Duncan as Port Engineer. In 1922 or 1923 Mr. Duncan presented a voluminous report. On receiving this report the Secretary of State for the Colonies considered that if such extensive development of the Port of Hong Kong was envisaged, an examination by Consulting Engineers should be carried out. At considerable expense, therefore, a visit to Hong Kong was made by one of the senior partners of Messrs. Fitzmaurice Coode & Fitzmaurice and a further voluminous report presented. Shortly thereafter ir. Duncan, Port Engineer, broke down in health and retired.
2.
These two reports suggested extensive reclamation in Hunghom Bay, with the creation of several deep water wharves, transit sheds and godowns in direct communication with the Railway. Junk Wharfage was also provided. Deep water wharves were also recommended for North Point. Extensive reclamation in front of Connaught Road for nearly its whole length, and at Kennedy Town, was also advised, with passenger clearing depots, transit sheds, etc. for river and coastal traffic.
3.
Partly because it was never proved that there is any real need for this very extensive and very expensive development of the Port, partly because the wharves in Hunghom Bay seem to be badly sited, but mainly because of the financial crisis following on the General Strike and Boycott of 1925-26 these two reports have been pigeon-holed and are now of little more than historical interest. This is so at least for the present though circumstances may change and make necessary the considerable development suggested. The parts of the Reports dealing with development on the Island of Hong Kong must however be given some consideration at the present day.
4. So far as we can recollect these two Reports did not deal with the management of the Port though they would, if implemented, have resulted in the Government entering into competition with private enterprise by its ownership of wharves, transit sheds and godowns.
5. Hong Kong has, perhaps, been unfortunate in the management of its Port affairs. A definite policy has been lacking and affairs have drifted along. To meet the desire of the Shipping and Commercial Community for some policy of development in the future, a Harbour Advisory Board was created about 1931 with membership in 1941 consisting of the Colonial Secretary, Chairman, the Financial Secretary, Director of Public Works, Harbour Master, Mr. T. N. Chau, C.B.E., J. K. Bousfield, W. H. Lock, and Commander F. W. Crowther, R.N. (Rtd.) with the 2nd Assistant Colonial Secretary as Secretary. It is understood that this Board never once met.
6. It is well known that all Pier leases expire in 1949 but Government has so far not announced any policy covering this important feature of the Port after that date. It was the urgency of this problem that brought Sir David Owen to Hong Kong in 1940-41.