May 20, IN our issues of April 6, 10, 16 and 20 we dealt with a number of considerations which argue strongly for the creation of a new and comprehensive Port of Shanghai Authorit This subject has already notice of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and it was referred to by Marshal Sun Chuan-fang in his recent speeches in Shanghai, It may therefore be convenient to recapitufeatures of the First, as regards shipping requirements, the deepening of the approach over the" Fairy Flats is a necessity, if the port fs to be accessible to the larger, ships of the immediate future. 'The Suez Canal already has a depth of 32 ft. which will shortly be deepened to 36 ft; and the Jeading harbours on the Indian' Ocean and Pacific all provide for 33 ft. Next comes provision of wharves with good rail and road connexion with the centre of Shanghai. Jus: as the Whang-Board has neither powers nor money to' tackle the Fairy Flats, it has no status to construct and operate such wharves, for which work only a Port Authori: y would be competent. Alternatively, that Authority might construct the basin and wharves, and the management be leased to private companies. In this connexion, laveas of the foreshore as yet undeveloped should be reserved or acquired for public purposes. The Whangpoo Conservancy [Board is experiencing great resistance to its endeavours in thi direction and has no power to expropriate othe, areas.
'A further most important point is the resent lack of effective control of the foreshore.
The marginal area of the river is to some extent a no-man's Iand lover which neither the Whang-[poo Conservancy Board, nor the Harbour Master, who should safeguard interests, has fent control. In some places it is impossible to prevent operations injurious to the river being carried on and the legal powers that exist, at -least in theory, to restrict development, land to reserve areas for public use are flouted. There is also] factual interference with conser-_ lvaney operations, Under pretext lof new land titles, dredging and mud-digging and disposal of, mud on the public foreshore is being effectively resisted, with the result that it may become dificult to maintain the "normal line" of the river. Finally the dredging will either have to be [stopped within a few months or] unnecessary expenditure will have to be incurred on special fand unremunerative methods of mud disposal, or land.has to be acquired for mud disposal and later development, for which the Board has no' authority These questions are bound up with the present want of unified control over the foreshore and fare not the least of the reasons calling for a new Port Authori With these, -ulso, has to be remembered the need for improved control of shipping in and around the harbour. Unity fof policy and administration Inecessary to permit healthy and rational development of shipping] facilities. The rearrangement of the berthing accommodation in the harbour by the Customs has recently been provided for, but! this is only one of many reforms required. The Whangpoo Conservancy Board has no power in certain matters, which much! need regulating and private and municipal development proceeds in a haphazard manner, frequently of a kind that must be detrimental to future public interests. Pilferage, the handling and storage of dangerous; cargo, garbage transport, mud-dumping, overloading of vessels Jand other matters cannot sufficiently controlled at present, owing to lack of powers of the River Police. The present Customs harbour control, for want] of sufficient authority, is sense an anomaly, and should be replaced by an authority having fuller powers Hitherto we have not attempt: ed to suggest what the constitution of the desired Port Authority should te. Obviously' this needs careful. consideration but one or two ideas may offered. The Authority might best be begun by merging the [Conservancy Board and the Customs Harbour Department, which already form a nucleus into a new Board and equipping it with pow A special representa-the requisite turds and plenary
tive of the Central and Provi cial Governments is desirable, to maintain the authority delegated by. these Governments to. the Board and to act as its chair-
The Taoyin, being the local territorial must. of course be included to give sanction to the [control of foreshore and acquired areas and processes of exprorrange matters concerning areas beyond the Port Authority's control. The! Commissioner for Foreign ACas the official " specially cis 5 necessary, on account delegated to mediate with for-
of the large number of question Jeoncerning foreign property and hipping which must arise. The [Superintendent 2f Customs and the Commissioner of Customs are
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.