CO129-586-6 Administration of the port of Hong Kong 27-1-1940 - 24-7-1940 — Page 114

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their existing establishments.

The questions of the future

administration of the port and of its physical development

are thus closely inter-related and must be considered

together.

8. on the question whether the situation denends

immediate action, it is stated that even if ilong kong is

threatened with a decline in trade by reason of competition

with other porta or otherwise, it may be all the more

necessary to adopt the form of organisation most likely to

produce the minimus port charges. This question does not

entirely depend upon the likelihood of any development or

increase in Hong Long's activities. *Development" does not

necessarily mean growth in size;

methods or circumstances,

it may also mean change in

Changes in other conditions in

the colony heve also to be taken into account in planning the

future of the organisation of the port, e.g. the growth of the

Air Fort, which adjoins the Northern shore of the harbour

and which it is almost certain to be necessary to extend

within the next ten ye-ra with consequent repercussions on

the siting or new shipping facilities.

Similarly, the

growth of motor traffic is already leading to the necessity

for an additional vehicular ferry across the harbour and the

siting or piers for such a ferry is a matter of some

difficulty which may sgain influence or be influenced by the

future plans for the harbour as a whole.