CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 65

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79.

Incidentally, Messrs. Coode & Company were against such a proposal, but the important point to be noted is that a Port may be "owned" or "controlled" by a state, a city, a corporation or a Public

The distinction between Trust, and yet not be "operated" by the owner. "controlled" and "operated" as applied to a Port should clearly be borne in mind.

80.

"Control" denotes supervision, i.e. the drawing up of regula- tions and seeing that they are observed, and settling the policy, while "operating" is the actual handling and the business management of all work connected with the berthing of ships, the discharge of their cargoes and the removal of the goods to and from warehouses or godowns.

81. One Port Authority may own and control but not operate, a striking example being Liverpool where, however, while the general operating is left to private enterprise the Authority do carry on an amount of warehousing of goods. Another Port Authority may both control and operate, as at London. No one system can be laid down as the ideal, for it entirely depends on tradition, custom and local conditions.

82. It is, however, significant that at most of the Ports in the United Kingdom and the Empire, some form of Public Port Trust has evolved, the obvious lesson to be learned being that it has been proved to be for the best. I need only mention London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Quebec, Montreal, Bombay, Karachi, Calcutta and Sydney, as a few notable examples of large Ports that have come to adopt the Public Trust system. Further proof of the efficacy of the Public Trust system is to be found in its extension to other spheres of activity connected with public services in Great Britain, as witness the Central Electricity Board and the London Passenger Transport Board.

Proposed Harbour Trust.

83. I have come to the conclusion that it would be to the advantage of all persons and interests dependent on the Port of Hong Kong that a I therefore make Public Trust should be formed to "control" the Port.

the following definite recommendations, to each of which I have appended a note of explanation or reason for the proposal:

(a) That a Body to be called the "Hong Kong Harbour Trust" be

established at the earliest possible moment.

NOTE.

There is no reason why the Trust should not get into being and to work as quickly as can be, notwithstanding war conditions.

(b) That the constitution of the Trust be as under:

Three Government officials of high standing, to be appointed

by the Governor.

Three British subjects conneoted with the trade of the Port,

to be appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the General Chamber of Commerce.

One person interested in the trade of the Port, to be

appointed by the Governor on the nomination of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce,

One independent person of business experience and, if possible, with a knowledge of Port affairs, to be appointed as Chairman by the Governor, on the nomination of the other members of the Trust at a Meeting duly held for the purpose.