CO129-586-6 Administration of the port of Hong Kong 27-1-1940 - 24-7-1940 — Page 22

To Sie D. Gwen

DESTROYED UNDER STATUTE

To Sir D. Owen

35 2. Sir 6. Bottomley

vo. x. xo

22

2.5.40

2.5.40

DESTROYED UNDER STATUTE

36 Air C. Botterley.

35 anso. Invitation accepted.

DESTROYED UNDER STATUTE

سلام

Put by

(Fe. Mh. Martin's note

envelope.

3-5-60

02

de)

Kin 83

45/40

aconce

Being

The question of the selection of a technical adviser to accompany Sir David Owen to Hong Kong was discussed with him today. The others present were

Sir Alan Burns

Sir C. Bottomley Mr. Spiller

Mr. Gent

and myself.

Sir Alan Burns explained the difficulty

felt in appointing Mr. Coode, a partner in the firm of Consulting Engineers who would presumably be called upon to carry out any port works resulting from Sir David Owen's report. Mr. Spiller on the other hand pointed out the advantage of having Mr. Coode in the enquiry, so that there would be no danger of the Consulting Engineers being called upon later to carry out plans with which they did not entirely agree. Mr. Gent added the objection that public opinion in Hong Kong might suspect Mr. Coode of being prejudiced int in favour of port

set by a public authority and of giving Sir David Owen advice accord- ingly.

Snow the customary Contractors to the

HK Gut, it w'mian profebuble work for them

if the brak ware to be reorganised mnder Govt conlyol.

Sir David Owen said that he would himself be able to guard against any danger of prejudiced advice and in any case such a danger was not to be expected from the partner in a reputable firm. appreciated, however, the objections to the appointment

He

of Mr. Coode and suggested that Mr. F.W. D. Davis, who had been assistant to Mr. Binns in the Port of London Authority and had recently retired, might be suitable.

On