APPENDIX I (D.2)
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
Present:
Mr. N. L. Smith, C.M.G., Chairman
Mr. S. B. E. McElderry, 0.M.G. Mr. S. H. Dodwell
Mr. W. J. Keswick
Mr. A. Lang
Mr. J. Masson
Mr. Warren Swire
Mr. 0. Wurtzburg, M.O.
Sir Mark Young, K.C.M.G. and Mr. A. Reid (M.W.T.) also attended this meeting.
1. Minutes.
With the consent of the Meeting the minutes of the first meeting held on the 15th November, 1945, which had been circulated to the members, were taken as read.
2.
Allocation of the Harbour Master's Functions.
A memorandum dated 10th December 1945 submitted by the Secretary and circulated to members of the Committee was considered and the following amendments of allocation of duties suggested at page three of that memorandum were agreed.
3.
(a) The second function to be amended to read "Registry of River Vessels" and to be the responsibility of the ercantile Marine Office.
(b)
(0)
The heading "Licensing of Launches, Lighters and Junks" to
be altered by the addition of "and registration" after "Licensing".
The reference to immigration fees to be deleted.
(a) 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.
Renewal of the Star Ferry Lease.
Mr. W. J. Keswick, who declared his interest in the matter, caid that he strongly disagreed with the views expressed by Mr. Nicol in his memorandum dated 26th September which was considered at the first meeting 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 it would take many people out of their way. He did not agree with Mr. Nicol that larger ferries, which would carry appreciably more people, would render navigation in the harbour more difficult. Mr. Keswick said that action was 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.