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load or unload would require to berth at least three times, thus requiring them to keep up steam in port for a much longer period than would otherwise be necessary. Due to the fact that the hours of departure and arrival of the vessels employed on the river trade are about the same times (11 p.m. to 4 a.m.) almost each steamer would require a separate berth. As the scheme holds no provision for dealing with cargo, the berths would thus be vacant for the greater part of the day. The scheme in proportion to its usefulness would therefore be very expensive. It was also ascertained that the searching of cargo is just as important as the searching of passengers and that a scheme is considered essential for their proper control. Re- commendations are made later in this report”.

This was again touched upon in a special joint Meeting of the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce held at the City Hall on the 3rd March, 1925. At this Meeting Mr. Duncan amplified his report and there was a general discussion afterwards, when Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher "inter alia" is reported as follows:-

૩.

"Mr. A. G. M. Fletcher emphasized the urgency of the vehicular ferry and mentioned that the scheme at Hong Kong Central suggested by Mr. Duncan included a reclamation which would require a considerable amount of filling. The present owner of East Point was anxious to remove the whole of the hill and was asking for place in which he could put the spoil. It would be most useful at the Hong Kong Central reclamation and would be available to the Government at a much cheaper rate than material obtained elsewhere. It would suit both the Government and Mr. Lee Hy San to come to an agreement in the matter. It would assist the Government if the Chamber would consider this question at an early date, and put forward their views on the scheme which was, in a sense, Mr. Sutherland's scheme as now amended by Mr. Duncan. There were many complications, -for example, the rights of the marine owners, which the Government could hardly ask the Chamber of Commerce to go into but the Government would welcome an expression of opinion on the main question whether the Chambers thought it advisable to have a large area in front of the present praya for steamers piers, at which passenger traffic would be controlled on the lines suggested by Mr. Sutherland, as modified by Mr. Duncan. He asked the Chambers to consider these two points the ferries and the passenger depot as of great urgency".

It will be noted therefore that the scheme in general, certainly at that time, was being seriously considered by the Government, but was apparently shelved with many other Harbour improvement matters.

I think a further word of explanation might assist the Commissioners in considering the benefits to be derived from a Passenger Depot. It will be noted that the scheme, as originally put forward, was not acceptable to a committee of Government Officers for reasons expressed in Mr. Duncan's resume, but with all due deference to the Members of the Conference who considered same, I am not in agreement with their finding which is somewhat as follows:-

"In the first place it is suggested that the scheme would not allow of any im- provement on the present methods regulating traffic".

This however, need not be further considered as the principle of better control would seem to have already been more or less accepted by the Government, judging from Mr. Fletcher's remarks:-

"The members of the Conference considered that much opposition would be met with from shipowners for reasons expressed in the foregoing.'

In reply to same I would say that ship-owners were sounded by me personally prior to putting forward the proposal and that I met with no opposition, but, on the other hand, considerable encouragment from all; in fact, the then Chairman of the Steamboat Company, which concern would be the one most affected, was quite in agreement.

"Vessels would require to shift three times."

This is not correct inasmuch as they would proceed on arrival immediately along- side the depot, discharge their passengers and go to their own piers and not move until

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