2.
110
5.
(b) Secretary (designate)
Mr. 0. G. F. F. Melmoth.
(e) It was also reported that the Civil Affairs Administration
in Hong Kong desired to engage fr. Carter for one year as an Engineer. The members of the Committee agreed that this might be done,
Financial Arrangements.
(a) The Chairman mentioned that Sir David Owen had recommended that during the initial experimental period of three years the Government should continue to bear the costs and receive the revenue which however were to be segregated and an annual statement of Revenue and Expenditure prepared, with a view to providing financial information as to the adequacy of the charges before setting up a permanent Port
During the experimental period development expenditure would be borne and accounted for separately by the Government.
(b) In reply to an enquiry as to whether on the pre-occupation basis the port services were self-supporting, the Chairman gave the following rough figures of annual revenue:
Light Dues Buoy Rauts
Pier Rents
Ferry Royalties - exceeding
Dollars
400,000
125,000
50,000
200,000
In addition revenue also accrued from fees for sundry licences and it was considered reasonable to accept Mr. Nicol's rough estimate of the total annual revenue at between 850,000 and 1,000,000 dollars, which it was thought should exceed expenditure, of which salaries were estimated roughly to amount to 250,000 dollars per annun,
(a) In considering the costs of operating the Port Trust attention was drawn to Sir David Owen's comments on the duties performed by the Harbour Master. After considerable discussion on the way in which the division of responsibility suggested by Sir David Owen was to be effected, in the course of which divergent views were expressed by members of the Committee, it was agreed that Mr. Melmoth be asked to submit a memorandum outlining the practice followed in London, Liverpool, and, if possible, a number of colonial ports, e.g. Lagos, Colombo, Singapore and Mombasa.
6. Mr. Nicol's Memorandum dated 18th September, 1945.
In the course of discussion on Mr. Nicol's Memorandum setting out his comments on Sir David Owen's Report, it was agreed that the proposed refuge harbours at Cheung Sha Wan and Tai Wan appeared open to objection on the score that the sites were unsuitable. Support was also expressed for Mr. Niool's view that the sewage disposal question required early consideration.
7. Mr. Nicol's Memorandum on Cross Harbour Transportation,
(Dated 26th September, 1945)
(a) Mr. Lang gave his opinion that the proposal for the construction of a sub-aqueous tunnel is undesirable on political grounds because it would link Hong Kong to the mainland.