THE HARBOUR.
Harbour Master Defends Criticised Votes.
LAUNCHES AND STAFF.
The Hon. the Harbour Master said:
Your Excellency. In his speech on the Budget for 1930 the Hon. Senior Unofficial Member made various comments and asked certain questions in respect of matters connected with the administration of the harbour. I will deal with these in the order in which the Hon. Member mentioned them.
Port Facilities. Government is keeping a watch- ful eye on the ever changing con- ditions of shipping visiting this port. The scheme for the accom- modation of Wharves for the largest type of ships as put for- ward by the Kowloon Wharf and Godown Company is now before Government and is receiving the most sympathetic consideration. Admiralty concurrence has now been given to the construction of a wharf by the Hongkong Wharf and Godown Company 120 feet from the Kowloon Camber, subject
to a guarantee being given by the Company that free space for manoeuvring lighters, etc. in and out of the Victualling Yard Cam- ber will be maintained during construction of the wharf, and afterwards when ships are berth- ed alongside. Provision for the reorganisation of the buoys in the harbour to deal with the increasing size of ships is now before this Council and will be
ever
found under Head 13 Sub-Head 31 on page 27.
The question of building a pro- tecting arm on the Western side of the Southern Entrance to the Yaumati Typhoon Shelter in order to afford further protection craft taking refuge in Typhoon weather is also receiving Govern- ment's consideration.
to
The question of cutting a chan- nel through the shoals between Green Island and Stonecutters Island to afford a Western En- trance and exit to ships of the largest size remains under con- sideration. The matter has been referred to the Consulting En- gineers, who at present cannot feel assured that such a channel I would maintain its depth of water { without periodical dredging
operation.
t
Coal for Offices.
The explanation for the sudden appearance of the items on page 27 under Sub-Heads 19 and 20 is as follows:
Surveyors proceeding out on Sur- vey work have to carry a consider- able amount of gear with them and the average weight of such gear is approximately 20 lbs.
on
Surveyors employed on boiler or double bottom work have to change their clothes. These changes are carried out in the launches their way to and from their work thus effecting an appreciable saving in time. They could hardly do this if travelling by the G.M.S. Office the work of the tram or bus. Each morning in
Up to 1928 this vote was includ- ed in the Treasury vote but in that year it was considered that as the accounts were kept in the Harbour Office and the Harbour Master, who is also the Govern-
sible for the ment Coaling Officer, was respon
administration, it vote under the Harbour Depart would be more fitting to place this
ment. Due to a misunderstanding day is allotted having due regard this item was omitted from both
to the facilities available for the Treasury and Harbour Depart-transport, but with only two ment estimates for 1929 and a sup- launches at disposal for ship work plementary vote was taken.
there are considerable delays des- item now appears under Head 13
pite the fact that the Surveyors' for the first time.
private cars are used as much as possible. It must not be over- looked however that: (1). There will be normally 11 surveyors working in this port, the remaining 3 being on leave.
This
Rent, Light and Water Allowances for Slipway Staff.
This item in the past has also been included in a Treasury Vote "Head 34 Sub-Head 41." "Rent F allowance for Asiatic Subordinate Officers." As the Slipway Staff are under the Harbour Depart- ment it has been considered more appropriate to show it under Head 13.
over
Govt. Marine Surveyors Dept.
The Hon. Senior Unofficial Member has pointed out in his speech that there are already four launches detailed for duty with the Government Marine Surveyors Department. He stated as follows: "In view of the fact that every Shipyard of the Colony can now be or tram with reached by bus
saving of time considerable
and travelling by launch also that the Marine Surveyor and his 13 Assistant Surveyors receive conveyance allowance the neces- use of launches by sity for the the G.M.S. Department is limited to the inspection of vessels lying afloat in the harbour which are not numerous enough to warrant an increase in the number allotted to the G.M.S. Office beyond the four completed launches above
referred to."
I regret that I am unable to agree with the Hon. Member that every shipyard in this Colony can be reached by tram or bus with considerable saving of time over travelling by launch, nor can I agree that some of them can be at all by tram or bus reached without covering a considerable distance on foot.
are
Weight of Gear. Shipyards in this Colony situated on the foreshore from Lai Chi Kok on the West to Lyemun Pass on the East, and are princi- pally small Chinese yards several of which are a considerable dis- tance from tram or bus routes. It may not be known to Hon. Members of this Council that
(2). Approximately 70% of the survey work in this port is done afloat and only 30% in the Shipyards.
Of the four launches H.D. 5, 6, 7, and 8, at present allotted for service with the G.M.S. Depart- ment, H.D. 6 is detailed for work! as a tender to the Yaumati Slip- way which is a full time job and consists of carrying workmen be- tween the Slipway and Govern- ment launches, under repair, and also doing all the fetch and carry work of a Dockyard tender.
Hundreds of Launches. H.D.3. is detailed for duty in surveys of launches other than Government launches. When it is realized that there is in this port between 7 and 8 hundred steam and motor launches the greater proportion of which are surveyed twice annually I do not think Hon. Members will be surprised to hear that she is running continuously all day long.
This then leaves
only two launches at the disposal ship of surveyors employed on work, and observing that 70% of this work is carried out afloat in ships at anchor or at buoys it will be seen that this number is entire- ly inadequate. At the present! moment one Nautical Surveyor is already on his way out to the Colony and will be followed by another early in 1930. These Officers' duties will be principally out in the harbour inspecting the Life Saving appliances of vessels and for Emigration work. Their utility will be lost to the Colony unless launches are provided for their use.
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