ENG-1962 — Page 53

REVIEW

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Whether as the centre of its entrepôt trade or, more recently, as an integral part of Hong Kong's developing industrial economy, the story of the port has been one of continued expansion and progress. The following figures show this progress during the past seven years:

Number of ocean-going vessels Net tonnage (millions)

Exports (megatons)

Shipping Entered

1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962

3,832 4,191 4,458 4,980 5,396 5,515 5,970 11.07 11.88 13.76 15.04 16.42 17.25 19.18

Trade

1.80 1.58 1.78 1.84 1.99 1.91 1.93

3.53 3.66 3.69 4.41 4.77

5.83 5.10

Imports (megatons)

Ferry passengers (millions) Vehicles carried (millions)

Internal Marine Traffic

119 123

130 136 139 147 166

1.25 1.39 1.43 1.49 1.71 2.00 2.47

The port of Hong Kong is perhaps unique in the world. Every other port of comparable size is administered by a port authority, trust or commission operating all the harbour facilities as a self- financing body; in Hong Kong the terms of reference of the senior port advisory committee contain the significant directive:

'To see that adequate and proper facilities are available in the port for ships and their cargoes and to make and submit to Government all necessary plans on that behalf, but to allow approved private enterprises to provide these facilities as far as possible, and also to let private enterprise do its own operating." /

The port grew up in a tradition of free enterprise. Now private enterprise and Government together continue to plan its future development. Perhaps Hong Kong and its port can be said to have achieved, through the experience of the past 120 years, that desirable balance between public control and private initiative best suited to its needs. In a period of improving living standards and rising costs, this balance enables the port to play its part in the Colony's economy. Hong Kong holds today a reputation as the fastest turn-round port for shipping in the Far East; and, equally important for the economic operation of modern ships, port charges are among the lowest in the world.