CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 118

APPENDIX I (D.5)

COPY

The Chairman,

Hong Kong Port Consultative Committee.

Sir,

Comments by the Harbour Master, etc. Hong Kong, 011 a Memorandum dated the 10th December, 1945, issued under the direction of the Hong Kong Port Consultative

Committee

124

If we are to assist the sea-carrying trade in the Far East then the aim of the Administrators of the Port of Hong Kong must be directed towards two main objectives:

(a) The simplification of all business connected with the

"official life" of the vessel itself,

(b)

and

The provision of efficient and cheap facilities for the

function usually termed "exchange of vehicle”.

Although both these points of major policy have for their common end the absolute necessity for fostering commerce, I am of the fixed opinion that a Marine Department should deal with the former and a Port Trust with the latter.

The former is very much concerned with Safety of Life at Sea, International Shipping Arrangements, the Welfare of the Seamen, etc., while the principal concern of the latter should be the smooth, speedy, and efficient reception and despatch of shipping.

2. During the transitory period, I strongly advocate the acquisition by the Port Trust of all port facilities in Hong Kong; for of all the various forms of port government they at least generally agree on the advisability of the autonomous body owning the main berthage and warehousing undertakings.

It is going to be a very strange Port Trust which leaves such indispensable features of the port in the hands of strong vested interests.

The operation of such undertakings, and the general development of the port as outlined in the Owen Report, should constitute a full time job for any Port Government without wishing to take over technical matters which are best left to officers who specialize in these subjects.

3. At the present time the "official business" of the vessel, 2.9 provided for under the Merchant Shipping Acts and other local Ordinances, can be contracted in one Office under one Head of Depart- ment. Why consider the possibility of splitting off certain functions and re-allocating them to other major departments or setting them up as individual minor departments just because one port does one thing and another the other?

Hong Kong is unique concerning the ease with which Ship-owners and Ship-masters can transact Ships' Business, and I recommend you leave it so and afford an opportunity even to improve it.

Remember I was appointed to Hong Kong during the War and have had no opportunity of showing what can be done in this respect with the assistance of an efficient technical staff.

I was 12 years in Nigeria, and apart from holding the appointment of Hydrographer I was also acting deputy on one or two occasions. (Please see your para.5 "Lagos").