No.20 (Continued)
(b)
There are undoubtedly many deficiencies in the present arrangements for the administration of the Port.
1. In matters of administration the Port is not regarded as
an entity and there is no adequate co-ordination of the services which minister to its needs. There is no single body or authority which has any power or is responsible for taking the initiative in the present administration or for future planning and development.
2.
3.
and
There is a lack of a systematic co-operation between Government and private enterprise. This is particularly shown in the uncertainty of the position of the piers, the leases and licences for which expire in 1949. The future of the Habour depends very largely on the mutual co-operation of Covernment and private enterprise, as Government by its ownership of piers and frontages has in its power means of laying down conditions for the future planning of the Port but private enterprise, which has at its own expense developed existing facilities, must be assured of a security of tenure under terms which are conducive to future improvements.
The Harbour Master is burdened with too many extraneous duties. He should occupy a stronger position as the advisory and executive officer of the administration of the Port. At present amongst other duties, he acts as Emigration Officer, Director of Air Services and as a Marine Magistrate. His marine jurisdiction is an anachronism from the early days of the Colony when there was a dearth of legally trained magistrates, but now this Jurisdiction should be taken over by the Legal Department of the Colony which should allocate a trained magistrate for marine cases. The Harbour Master should be a man of first-class qualifications and experience capable not only of advising on the general policy of the Port, but of exercising the necessary influence for future planning and developing.
For the future it will be necessary to secure a closer and more effective co-ordination between Government, the Municipal services and private interests. Something more is needed than an ordinary Port Advisory Board acting in a purely advisory character. I advocate a Port Committee with wide but define? terms of reference whose recommendations, subject to Government approval, should be carried out by order of the Government through the Harbour laster as Executive Officer with the assistance of whatever Municipal or Covernment service that may be required. As for the constitution of the proposed Port Committee, I support the suggestions of Sir David Owen in his report that it should be as follows:
(a) Two Government officials of high standing and one Naval
officer to be appointed by the Governor.
(b) Three British subjects connected with the trade of the
Port to be appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the General Chamber of Commerce.
(c) One person interested in the trade of the Port to be
appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
(Continued)
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