CO129-589-11 Port of Hong Kong- Report on future control and development 18-7-1941 - 10-10-1944 — Page 105

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by Mr. E.R.Hallifax, then Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and

Mr. C.W.Beckwith, then Harbour Master. In it the opinion was

expressed that it was desirable to aim at the ownership by the

Government of all piers, it being presumed that Government

control could be made a "sound financial proposition".

(32) The second Report is signed by Mr. John Duncan the then Harbour Engineer and Mr.L.C.P. Rees, then Principal Land

Surveyor, and is dated 1st September, 1922. The authors of the

Report had been asked to report on certain pier sites and were

instructed, when dealing with the matter, to bear in mind the

opinion expressed by the Colonial Secretary and the Harbour

Master at a meeting of the Town Planning Committee, to the

following effect:-

(33)

(a) In future the Government should not alienate any

more of the Harbour frontage for the erection of

private piers for the purpose of dealing with

ocean-borne merchandise.

(b) In future the Government should erect, maintain

and administer all piers designed to acoomodate

ocean-going steamers.

(c) The Government should pursue a policy of acquiring

and thereafter administering existing piers,

with however certain exceptions such as those of

the Hong Kong & Kowloon Wharf & Godown Company,

and Messrs. Alfred Holt & Company.

(d) Whenever opportunity arises, the Government should

acquire existing ferry pier sites, and in future

all new ferry piers should be erected and

maintained by the Government.

The Report made certain recommendations in accordance

with this policy, it being emphasised that these recommendations

were made on the clear understanding "that the Government would

exercise its rights in 1949 and take possession of all existing

pier sites", the leasing of which might hinder such policy of