CO129-592-10 Future Policy in Hong Kong- Port Administration 10-4-1946 - 15-4-1947 — Page 24

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forward by the Committee against the creation of an independent Port Trust do not apply to Singapore now that colony is separated from the Malayan Union. I understand that the Singapore Harbour Board functions very successfully. But the Committee which the Governor set up to consider the proposal to establish a Port Trust have gone into the matter very thoroughly and their view is unanimous, and supported by the Executive Council, that it should be abandoned. In view of this advice and of previous minutes on this file, I assume we shall agree.

2.

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One of the most frequent criticisms of the pre-war arrangements for the management of the harbour was the number of different Government departments involved. (The Harbour Department, Public Works Department, Canton/Kowloon Railway Department, Police Department, Medical Department etc.) I wonder whether the Port Committee which is proposed as an advisory body is going to effect real co-ordination between these different depart- ments and between them and non-government interests. dur. Coleman's suggestion (at x on page 20 of the Report) that a separate department should be set up under a Secretary for Transportation, who would control the Port, the Railway, Civil Aviation and Road Transport, seems worthy of consideration and in acknowledging the Governor's despatch at 15 it might be worth asking for his views on this suggestion.

3.

Re x of Mr. North's minute, I take it that it is possible to devise some means of making financial provision for long-term planning. In this connection the financial arrangements, what- ever they are, envisaged by the Government for the purpose of long-term railway development in this country when it takes over the railways may be relevant. The Committee rightly stress the need for properly planned port development,

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30-12-46

Mr Seel

I send this file on as the subject, namely the Administration of the Port, is in itself of great importance to Hong Kong, and also because Mr. Creech Jones took a personal interest in this matter at its previous stage. The minutes leading up to the Secretary of State's telegram of the 6th June, 1946 (No.3), starting with Mr. North's minute of the 6th May, will, I think, give you the background.

The main question is whether we should adhere to the proposal to create a Port Trust, which was accepted in principle by the Hong Kong Government in 1941 and which was agreed to here in the early part of 1945, at any rate to the extent of appointing a Chairman and Secretary for the Port Trust (see in this connection Sir Edward Gent's minute of the 17th March, 1945 on 54145/1/45).

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