CONFIDENTIAL
BRIEF NO. 10
VISIT OF MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
TO HONG KONG
OCTOBER 1967.
Transport Commission
The Minister has shown interoot in a suggestion put forward by
Mr. Herrios for the establishment of a Transport Commission "to co-ordinate and run public transport in the Colony, utilising those experts who are already there and recruiting others".
2. In discussions with the Minister, Mr. Horries (who declared his interest as Chairman of Hong Kong Tramways and of the Star Ferry Company) indicated that ho had not got nationalisation in mind; in this respect ho seemed to be at variance with the views of others at the mooting (e.g. Lord Rhodos). Hr. Horries proposed a "half-way house to nationalisation": ho appeared to envisage a planning and co-ordinating commission with powers to intervene in the running of transport concerns either in the interests of co-ordination or of maintaining efficioncy.
3.
Tho transport companies have boon hoavily hit by the Communist-inspired stoppages in rocent months. The bus companies in particular have boen, soriously affected and have not been able to resume normal running; they are Chinese family concorns and managemont is weak,
4. The Transport Advisory Committeo is responsible for studying transport problems in the Colony and for offering advice to the governjant and transport companios in the planning of sorvices to most present and future noedo. There may well be a caso for creating in its placo a body with certain executivo funotions and wider powers. The increasing size and complexity of Hong Kong's traffic problems must inevitably, it would seem, involve a greater direction of the private companies concerned.
5. The Governor has boon told that the Minister will be raising this question.
Hong Kong Department,
October 1967.
CONFIDENTIAL
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