The port is not an isolated entity and must be linked to its hinterland. A distinction needs to be made regarding which part of the port infrastructure and equipment will be paid for by the port as service-production centre or business unit, and which part the community as a whole will finance, according to development objectives and priorities. There may be certain large capital expenditure items that would place too heavy a strain on port finances. Some would argue that the connecting road and rail systems should be financed by the port while others argue that major long-term structures such as breakwaters or channel dredging should be partly or wholly charged to the central or regional government. It is for each government to decide this policy according to the financial capacity of existing ports and the expected profitability of planned new ports (UNCTAD, 1985).