ENG-1962 — Page 46

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REVIEW

On 13th October 1938, the Governor, Sir Geoffry Northcote, told the Legislative Council that he intended to ask the Secretary of State's assistance in selecting one or more experts to submit recommendations on the future organization of the port of Hong Kong. As a result Sir David J. Owen, of the Port of London Authority, and Mr Duncan Kennedy arrived in the Colony in January 1941. In essence their report recommended a public trust to control, but not to operate, the port. The war intervened and a Port Administration Inquiry Committee appointed in 1946 by the Governor, Sir Mark Young, rejected a public trust on the grounds of expense. Instead it was recommended that a Port Committee should be formed to advise Government on all matters relating to the welfare, control, administration and development of the port, including reclamation schemes. This committee was appointed in 1947 and has since met approximately four times a year. A second committee, the Port Executive Committee, was formed to keep under constant review the day-to-day problems of the port. It meets every month under the chairmanship of the Director of Marine.

Hong Kong's pre-war shipbuilding industry produced one vessel, in părticular, which achieved notable distinction. This was the celebrated Breconshire, which was completed by the Taikoo Dockyard for the Glen Line in 1939. Commissioned as a Naval auxiliary, her high speed of 19 knots enabled the Breconshire to complete eight vital trips to Malta at the height of the enemy blockade. Captain R. W. Roskill, RN, the naval historian, has stated that she thereby did more than any single ship of any type to break the siege. The Breconshire was finally disabled by enemy aircraft within sight of Malta's Grand Harbour, in March 1942, and was sunk in the open roadstead south of the island. Many of her original crew, especially among the engineers and electricians, remained on the Breconshire throughout her service under the White Ensign. Both they and those who designed and built the ship are entitled to a share in the credit for her splendid achievements.

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So far as is known the Japanese made no attempt to develop the port during their occupation of the Colony from 1941 to 1945;