CO129-608-7 Future policy- Report on Port Administration by Sir David Owen 24-2-1941 - 24-2-1941 — Page 87

(b)

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Engagement and Discharge of Crew, Entering and Clearing, Examination of Masters and Mates for Certificates of Competency, Marine Notices to Mariners, Navigational Aids, and the Licensing of Launches, Lighters, Junks, etc. Most of these duties are regulated by the Merchant Shipping Acts of 1894, 1906, etc., and I see no point in making a well organized Technical Department subordinate to the Chairman of a Trust whose members are prominent local business men and senior Government Officers with no knowledge of shipping problems. Furthermore, disintegration would result in a form of bureaucracy of the worst type, and Shipmasters and Shipping Interests would have to deal with a number of minor departmental heads which sooner or later would lead to corruption.

I refer in the main, to a suggestion that the Surveyors Sub-Department should be set up as a separate department of Government under the charge of the Principal Surveyor of Ships.

3. I would suggest the Harbour Department be re-named "Marine Department". Any "Dircoting Body" would have a most comprehensive constructional and development programme ahead of them, and I maintain that the multifarious problems connected with the vessel itself are best left to a "Marine Department". It must be remembered that Government would be handing over to the Trust an important part of the affairs of the Colony, especially considering the rapidly expanding local industries. In addition, vested interests are sure to be well represented on the Trust; and the rights of small holders will require adequate safeguards in view of the fact that many Port Trusts which start life in a healthy spirit of co-operation eventually finish up with the subordination of all competitive interests to themselves. (N.B. The amount of litigation the Port of London Authority has been concerned in during preceding years.)

4.

Beyond the construction and/or acquisition and licensing of a few piers on the Hong Kong side, the Owen Report makes no further reference to the actual operation of port facilities. Would it not be possible at this time for the Trust to take over the Godown Company and Holt's Properties on the Kowloon side, otherwise I foresee members of the Trust controlling other Interests while those in which they are directly concerned enjoy complete freedom of action.

The proposal to set up a thorough going Trust which would own all the facilities for shipping in Hong Kong might meet with approval. This would entail the buying out of the Hong Kong and Kowloon Wharf & Godown property, Holt's Wharf & Godowns and also the China Provident Loan & Mortage Company's property at West Point, and would eventually become self-supporting and independent of repeated subventions from Revenue.

5. I suggest that the fumotions of such a Trust should comprise, in a greater or lesser degree -

(a)

(b)

The construction and maintenance of quays, wharves,

jetties, piers and retaining walls, etc.

The provision and maintenance of transit sheds,

warehouses, etc., together with appliances for handling goods and material, such as cranes, conveyors, eto. (See (f).)

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