CO129-503-1 Development of Hong Kong Harbour 6-12-1926 - 28-10-1927 — Page 53

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whether the deepened 3ulphur Channel would remain deep after

the dredging. we think, therefore, that this is à case în

which the various elements of the problem must be balanced

together in a general way, and some of those elements lie

beyond our purview, more expecially the urgency of provision

for the aerodrome, which is a matter we understand likely

to be considered by the Committee of Imperial Defence.

The points to be balanced together are (1) the urgency of

the aerodrome, (2) whether for political and other reasons

it is desirable to charge the increased cost whelly to the

Air Service or whether it should be divided between the Air

Force and the Harbour, and (3) whether it is worth while in

view of the small amount involved (£75,000) to go to the

expenses of employing consulting engineers, having regard

to the fact that even when their advice has been given the

result must be to some extent uncertain, and (4) whether there

is any other more urgent improvement of the harbour towards

which the sum of £75,000 would be an appreciable contribution.

On the last point, we are not perhaps well qualified to judge

since our enquiry (undertaken at the instance of the secretary

of 3tate) has been concerned with broad policy and the

tem

coplated works, with regard to which we have been advised

would run to a cost of some million of dollars. We understa:

however, that it is the general idea of the Governor of Hone

Kong that manor facilities such as cranes should be provided

by private enterprise and that the public authority should be

limited to harbour improvements in the strict sense.