Sessional_Paper_1946 — Page 81

Sir,

77

J

Colonial Secretariat,

Hong Kong.

18th November, 1946.

REPORT OF THE PORT ADMINISTRATION INQUIRY COMMITTEE.

We were appointed by Your Excellency by letter dated 28th August, 1946, to conduct an inquiry into certain matters concerning the future administration of the Port of Hong Kong, and in accordance with our terms of reference we have the honour to submit this report.

2. Terms of Reference.

Our full terms of reference were:

To institute, make and conduct an inquiry into the undermentioned matters, to report to His Excellency the Governor thereon and to make such recommendations thereon as may be thought fit:-

کر

(a) What advantages would accrue from the establishment of a Hong Kong Port Trust to control the Port as recommended in the Report of Sir David Owen, and whether it is in the public interest that such a Trust should be established.

(b) What, if any, deficiencies exist in the present arrangements for the adminis- tration and control of the Port and what reforms, if any, are called for. (c) Whether any deficiencies that may now exist could be remedied and whether any reforms that may be deemed necessary could be introduced by some modification of the present system of Government control.

(d) What means could be adopted to secure on the one hand a closer and more effective co-ordination between the Government departments concerned with the Port and to ensure on the other hand the fullest possible representation of the interests concerned.

(e) Whether the desired end could be attained by the formation of a Port Advisory Committee whereon Government departments and public and private interests concerned were fully represented-such Committee to have the right of direct access to the Government for the purpose of making representations.

(ƒ) What, if any, other scheme or method of control or operation of the Port

might be practicable and desirable.

(g) What means should be adopted for the introduction of such scheme or method

of control or administration of the Port as may be recommended.

3. Constitution of the Committee.

The Committee was constituted with the following members:

The Hon. T. M. Hazlerigg, C.B.E., M.C. (Chairman).

Commodore D. H. Everett, C.B.E., D.S.O., R.N., Commodore-in-Charge, Hong

Kong.

The Hon. V. Kenniff, Director of Public Works.

Mr. W. M. Thomson, Director of Supplies, Trade & Industry.

Mr. I. B. Trevor, M.C., Manager of the Railway.

The Hon. D. F. Landale.

The Hon. T. N. Chau, c.B.E.

The Hon. C. C. Roberts.

Mr. R. Y. Frost.

Mr. Lawrence Kadoorie.

Mr. R. A. Wickerson.

Mr. Li Koon-chun.

Mr. C. G. F. F. Melmoth (Secretary).

4. Circumstances which lead to the appointment of this Committee.

(1) In 1941, the late Sir David Owen, formerly General Manager of the Port of London Authority, visited the Colony and submitted a report in which the main proposal was that a Port Trust to control, but not to operate, the port facilities be set up in Hong Kong. His proposals were accepted in principle by the Governor In Council at that time. (A copy of Sir David Owen's Report is included in Appendix I.)

Appendix I.