CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG PORT ADMINISTRATION INQUIRY COMMITTEE
No.18
From:
No.19
Representations received in response to an invitation addressed to certain persons by the Chairman on 23.9.46.
(Continued)
Mr. E. R. Hill,
Director,
Messrs. Dodwell & Co. Ltd.
Dated 16th October, 1946.
I am in receipt of your letters of the 23rd September and 9th October in connection with the future administration of the Port of Hong Kong.
I have read with great interest the Report on the Future Control and Development of the Port of Hong Kong, preparel in 1941 by the late Sir David Owen.
I consider t'at more Government control is desirable and that crhaps the best course would be to establish this catrol by some form of Port Authority or Trust. This method however, would add considerably to the expense of the Port and, for this reason, I would recommend strengthening the existing Port Executive Committee. If after a trial period, this should prove inadequate, I would then favour adopting the recommendation made by the late Sir David Owen.
From: Mr. T. B. Wilson,
General Agent,
American President Lines.
Dated: 17th October, 1946.
With reference to your letter of October 9, unfortunately I have been ill recently and away from the office for a good part of the time, with the result that I have been unable to give the thought and attention to your letter of September 23.
I am not in a position to offer any concise alternative proposa", but must admit that I have yet to see or learn of a Gover ment Control, such as the proposed Port Control, which did not in a more or less degree stifle private enterprise; also, I have never heard of a similar Government Control that did not result in increased cost to the consumer. A properly organized and efficient Port Control for Hong Kong night work out satisfactorily provided the actual operation of port facilities remained in the hands of private enterpris.
I regret that I am unable to go into this subject in more detail.