157
3.
It is my opinion that the Port so far has gained far more from the foresight of commercial interests than from any constructive planning by the Authorities. The outstanding example of this is the main wharves which in my opinion in 1940 did not then earn, or hað ever earned for years, an aconomic return in themselves, but had had to depend on other sources of business to make their Companies profitable.
(b) Deficiencies. The three outstanding ones have already been
touched upon
(1) Diversion of staff, willing or compulsory, to
other departments at the whim of the D.P.W. a8 permanent chief.
(2) Lack of long-term policy.
(3) Diversion of revenues.
(c) Remedies.
in my
These defects could be modified but not, opinion, ever entirely remedied under the present system.
(a) Effective Co-ordination. Various Harbour Committees in the
past have failed in their objeot, I should say either from lack of interest or expert knowledge on the part of Administration Nominees and, on the part of the Port representative, from the disheartening effect of past projects turned down and the inability of a junior department to compel attention, even though its interests are of vital importance to the Colony as a whole.
(e)
Sir David Owen recommended a Committee of only six members
to manage the Trust. Like him, I believe in small committees and would advise even a smaller one of three, one Administrative, one Trust and one Commercial to meet weekly to submit their views and co-ordinate their efforts on the running of the Port. It appears to me that this small committee, each member with no time to waste, would have more driving force than a larger body. All three would be used to accepting responsibility.
(f) In view of the fact that the Port of London Authority has
proved competent to keep that Port in its leading position and that Sir David Owen's wide experience led him to advocate a Port Trust for Hong Kong, I can offer no recommendation for other means of control.
(g) The engagement by Government of a chief executive from a home
port whose primary work would be to adapt the present organization to the needs of the Port Trust and then to take his place as its administrative head after its formation seems to me to be the first constructive measure to be attempted.
In setting out my views as above I do not pretend to be an expert in any way, but I can claim that in twenty-five years' residence here I have not failed to take an interest in this harbour of ours and I trust therefore that they may serve to endorse the views of others better qualified to express opinions on the subject. I regret pressure of business has prevented me from presenting my views earlier."