XN000022-1989-11-08 — Page 20

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1989

"GIVEN THE

CONTINUED INCREASE IN PORT TRAFFIC, THE CONSTANT INCURSION INTO THE AVAILABLE WATER SPACE BY NEW RECLAMATIONS AND THE MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENTS FIRMLY PLANNED. WE MUST ENSURE WE HAVE IN PLACE THE MECHANISM TO KEEP OUR PORT MANAGEMENT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW," SHE SAID.

IN AT

"OUR INTENTION IS THAT THE BOARD SHOULD COME INTO OPERATION APRIL NEXT YEAR. BEFORE THEN WE WILL NEED TO TAKE A CRITICAL LOOK THE PORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE STRUCTURE TO ENSURE THAT THERE IS NO OVERLAP. SHE ADDED.

"

THE SECRETARY AUTHORITY SHOULD BE DEVELOPMENT BOARD.

NOTED THERE WAS A SUGGESTION THAT A PORT ESTABLISHED IN PLACE OF THE PROPOSED PORT

MRS CHAN POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS MANAGEMENT OF THE PORT WAS CRUCIAL ΤΟ THE ABILITY TO HANDLE CARGOES.

NO DISAGREEMENT THAT TERRITORY'S CONTINUED

**THE EXISTING SYSTEM RELIES ON A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT. WHICH LARGELY CONTROLS THE WATERSPACE, AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, WHICH LARGELY OWNS AND OPERATES THE WHARVES AND TERMINALS.

"THIS

SYSTEM HAS SERVED US WELL FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. BUT IT AN IMPORTANT WEAKNESS, BROUGHT ABOUT BY THE SCALE OF LAND AND TRANSPORT REQUIREMENTS NOW NEEDED TO SERVICE THE PORT, MRS CHAN SAID.

HAS

"ON THE SEAWARD SIDE, WE HAVE COPED WELL WITH GEARING OUR PORT TO HANDLE THE ENORMOUS CONTAINER SHIPS WHICH ENTER AND LEAVE HARBOUR, NEARLY 30 TIMES A DAY.

"BUT WE HAVE BEEN LESS SUCCESSFUL IN COPING WITH THEIR CARGOES STORAGE ALONE REQUIRES VAST AMOUNTS OF LAND; TRANSPORT OF CONTAINERS ΤΟ AND FROM THE PORT HAS MADE GREAT DEMANDS ON OUR ROAD SYSTEM.

"AS DEMANDS ON THE PORT CONTINUE TO INCREASE WE SHALL NEED GREATER CO-ORDINATION BETWEEN THE MARINE AND THE LAND ASPECTS OF THE OPERATION, MRS CHAN SAID.

"

THIS, PLUS THE GROWING NEED TO HAVE A CENTRAL FOCUS FOR ALL MATTERS CONCERNING THE PORT. LED TO THE EXAMINATION OF THE OPTIONS OPEN FOR BETTER PORT MANAGEMENT.

IN THE PADS STUDY A PORT AUTHORITY OWNING, MANAGING AND OPERATING ALL OR PART OF THE PORT AND ITS CARGO HANDLING INFRASTRUCTURE WAS ONE OF THE OPTIONS THAT WAS CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

"THE REALITY IS THAT OUR PRESENT PRACTICE WHEREBY GOVERNMENT PROVIDES THE FRAMEWORK AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR PROVIDES THE INVESTMENT, THE OPERATING SKILLS AND TAKES DECISIONS ON INVESTMENT ON THE BASIS OF PRUDENT COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES HAS SERVED US WELL.

/"IT IS

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