CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 163

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CONFIDENTIAL

HONG KONG PORT ADMINISTRATION INQUIRY COMMITTEE

No.21 From:

Representations received in response to an invitation addressed to certain persons by the Chairman on 23.9.46.

(Continued)

Mr. R. G. Craig,

Acting Chief Manager,

Hong Kong & Whampoa Dock Co. Ltd.

Dated: 16th October, 1946.

With reference to your letter of 23rd September, 1946, the proposals contained in the late Sir David Owen's report do not appear to affect the interests of this Company to any great extent.

The report, however, does not deal with Heavy Lift Cranes, Towage, Salvage, Fire Services, Private Mooring Buoys If any and Prohibited Anchorages in which we are interested. specific proposals regarding these are under consideration we would be pleased to hear of them and to express our views further.

Apart from the Repair, Docking, Salvage, Heavy Lift and Towage facilities which we provide for shipping in the Port, we would draw attention to the fact that in pre-war days our 100-ton crane was linked to the Kowloon-Canton Railway, and locomotives destined for the interior of China were off-paded in our works. This matter is relevant to paragraphs 52 and 53 of the Report.

With reference to para. 102 (23) which recommends a terminal for future vehicular ferry services at Gillies Avenue it is noted that this proposed pier would be alongside the

The route western boundary of our establishment in Hung Hom. of these ferries would presumably pass across the entrances to our dry-docks, slipways, building berths and be adjacent to our mooring buoys and it is for consideration if this would be desirable. It is possible that the proximity of the proposed pier might lead to marine accidents in what would become a congested area.

We beg to refer to another matter which may, or may not,

" of your be considered to be within the "Terms of Reference Committee. It is significant that in para. 25 of the Report the securing of business in the Port is attributed, among other things, to the cheapness of its facilities. We respectfully suggest that the prescat high cost of ship and machinery repairs due to the high cost of living allowance granted is a matter of prime importance to the interests of the Colony. In para. 45 of the Report the ship-building and ship-repairing industry is referred to as the largest manufacturing industry in the Colony and, quite apart from the unemployment caused if shipping cannot afford to use our facilities, it would appear a matter of extreme urgency that these facilities can be provided at prices which are comparable with our competitors in other ports in the world.

We thank you for the opportunity to express our views and shall be pleased to render any assistance if required in the future.