Sessional_Paper_1920 — Page 60

55

No. 1920

8

HONGKONG.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF MAKING PROVISION FOR THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY

IN THE HARBOUR DURING TYPHOON WEATHER.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor, 17th June, 1920.

HONGKONG, 26th April, 1920.

SIR, We the Committee appointed by His Excellency the Governor by notification in the Government Gazette dated 7th January, 1920, "to consider and report upon the question of making provision for the protection of life and property in the Harbour during typhoon weather" have the honour accordingly to submit our report and recom- mendations.

2. The suggestions that have from time to time been put forward deal with:--

(a.)—The provision of life boats easily handled but not adapted for towing. (b.) The provision of tugs and launches for towing and life saving. (c.) The provision of adequate Typhoon Shelters.

(d.) The provision of sufficient Typhoon Signals.

3. Taking these proposals in their order :-

(a.)-Lifeboats.-The Committee (Captain Taylour dissenting) resolved to make no recommendation in this respect as it was thought that there was no work within their scope that could not equally well be carried out by tugs and launches provided with life lines.

Captain Taylour in dissenting expressed the view that there was ample justification for the provision of such lifeboats: though the pro- vision of a shelter for small boats at the West end of the Harbour might lead him to modify his opinion.

(b.)—Tugs and Launches for towing. The provision and organisation of these was considered by the Committee as a matter of urgency, to be dealt with as far as possible in readiness for the typhoon season of the current

year.

It was resolved to recommend that the Government should ulti- mately provide at least two tugs of about 100 ft. in length and 500 to 750 H. P. whose first duty should be the protection of life and property in typhoon weather. In addition, that the Naval Authorities and other owners of suitable tugs be approached to permit them to assist as soon as they could be spared from their own proper duties: the provision of at least two Government tugs being essential as no others are likely to be available for outside work for some little time after the necessity has arisen.

The Government tugs while on other than typhoon duty could if thought fit be manned entirely by Chinese: but on typhoon duty they should be in charge of European Seamen with local knowledge of the

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