CO129-592-10 Future Policy in Hong Kong- Port Administration 10-4-1946 - 15-4-1947 — Page 227

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Mr. N.L. Salth

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The memorandım was merely a brief factual survey and left open for discussion the question how the functions not taken over by the Port Trust were to be administered.

2. Commander Jolly's oœssents are largely a case for merging these functions under one head instead of two less important heads, and as "qual" conUwFTI GÖVÜTTIENT"

dre Port Trust.

3. Commander Jolly's remarks in his paragraph 4 sub-paragraphs (1) to ~(ix)-are-ecasistent with the allocation agreed to by our Committee.

With regard to sub-paragraph (x) Dangerous Goods although Commander

Jolly's recommendations are in line with singapore practice, this is the exception rather than the rule, and I suggest that the Port Trust should be concerned with the formulation and enforcement of the rules applicable to the carriage of dangerous goods within the harbour limits.

4. In his paragraph 5 Commander Jolly deals with a mmber of functions which in the main, are normally controlled by the Fort Authority.

(1) Notices to Mariners. Nomally the Port Authority is responsible for safe navigation within the Harbour limits and the Authority's technical officer is the competent official for the purpose of issuing these Notices.

(ii) Registration of Launches and Junks. It is agreed that these vessels should be surveyed by the marine surveyors, but the registration of the should be the function of the Fort Trust so that it can satisfy itself that suitable craft only are using the waters of the Colony, and that they have paid the appropriate licence fees.

(iii) Entering and Clearing. It is agreed that this is a function upon which there must be co-operation between the Marine Department and the Port Trust. The Port Trust is concerned with this function because it has an important bearing on the collection of its revenue which no other Fort Trust delegates to Government.

(iv) Regulations of Perry Services. The Port Trust is going to be concerned with the development of the Ferries as part of the Harbour facilities, and it would be inconsistent for the Marine Dept. to control the ferries.

(v) Navigational Aids and Simal Stations. It is inconsistent for

Fort Trust to receive the revenue but not to carry out the work which I think, is what Comander Jolly's recommendation amounts to. The Committee agreed that the Trust should take over the neceSBALY staff for these and other technical duties.

(vi) Licensing of Pilots. Although there is a lack of uniformity in practice and in England the question is being reconsidered, it is generally agreed by Harbour Authorities that they should license the pilots operating in their waters, and that it is illogical to have an outside body responsible for this.

(vii) It is very unusual for a Port Trust to have its revenue ed and its statistics compiled for it by another department.

5. I agree with the recomendation at paragraph 6 that the Gunpowder Depot on Green Island should be taken over by the Trust.

6. If the Port Trust is not to be an "operating" authority- Sir David Owen suggested than the suggestion that the proposed liarine Department operate the Goverment slipway is not one which concerns our committee.

7. I suggest that too sharp distinction should not be draw between Government and the Port Trust, because the powers vested in the Trust will simply be those delegated to it by the Goverment and will be sub.... ject to amendment when necessary.

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