CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 124

RE-ALLOCATION OF HARBOUR MASTER'S DUTIES

Comments on a Memorandum by the Harbour Master

dated 7th January, 1946

Chairman,

Hong Kong Port Consultative (London) Committee.

The memorandum 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 comments are largely a case for merging these functions under one head instead of two less important heads, and as such concern Government rather than the Port Trust.

3. Commander Jolly's remarks in his paragraph 4, sub- paragraphs (i) to (ix) are consistent with the allocations 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 number of functions which in the main, are normally controlled by the Port Authority.

(ż)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

(x)

Notices to Mariners. Normally 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.

Registration of Launches and Junks, It is agreed that

these vessels should be surveyed by the marine surveyors, but the registration of them should be the function of the Port 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.

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 Port Trust delegates to Government.

Regulation of Ferry 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 Department to control the ferries,

Navigational Aids and Signal Stations. It is

inconsistent for the Port Trust to receive the revenue but not to carry out the work which,

I think, is what Commander Jolly's recommendation amounts to. The Committee agreed that the Trust should take over the necessary staff for these and other technical duties.

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