CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 12

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So far as the proposed Chairman is concerned, I do not consider that should prove a difficulty. It might be desirable to seek one from Great Britain or some other part of the Empire, but not necessarily if there are suitable persons in this locality who are not actively engaged in business connected with shipping.

(c) The Trustees, other than the Chairman, to be unpaid, but the Chairman, who would be required to devote a large portion of his time, though not perhaps the whole, to his duties, to be paid a suitable annual fee. NOTE.—I should think there are sufficient public-spirited men in Hong Kong who would undertake the duties of Trustee without any pecuniary remuneration. There was evidently no difficulty in getting persons to act on the Advisory Board and Committee.

(d) This Body of Harbour Trustees to remain in being for three years, as an

experiment.

NOTE. I make this suggestion, as the idea of a Port Trust is a new one for Hong Kong, and in certain quarters might be viewed with apprehension. A trial period of three years would enable the Trust to justify its existence, while the experience gained would show in what direction some modifications, if any, might be necessary.

To put it on a very low level, the Trust could do no harm in that period.

When established on a permanent basis, I would suggest that the appointment of Trustees should be in each case for three years, they all being eligible for re-appointment-of course at the discretion of the Governor.

It might, however, be desirable to appoint the Chairman on a more permanent basis.

(e) The matters over which the Trust would have control, to be:-

Leasing or letting of piers.

Construction of new piers as and when necessary, and the charges

therefor.

Lights and buoys (Navigational) and the charges therefor.

Mooring buoys and the charges therefor.

Ferries and the royalties, etc., therefor.

Dredging the Harbour as required from time to time.

Licensing of pilots.

Regulation of Harbour traffic and the promulgation of the necessary

by-laws for that purpose.

The general policy of the Harbour.

NOTE.

These are the matters usually under the control of Harbour Trusts.

The three years' experimental period would, as already mentioned, disclose whether any addition should be made to these functions or whether any modification of them would be necessary or desirable.

(f) The rents of the piers, the charges for the use of mooring buoys, the charges levied upon the ferry owners in the form of royalties, etc., and the light dues to be paid to the Trust.

NOTE. Out of these revenues the Trust would pay the remuneration of the staff provided for in the next paragraph, as well as the cost of maintaining the lights, buoys and ferry piers not belonging to the ferry concerns. Government piers would of course be maintained by the Government.