HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1952
period of official mourning for the late King and finally took place on 2nd June, when His Excellency was accompanied to Macau by Lady Grantham. At the beginning of July, the Portugese Minister for Over- seas Territories, His Excellency Commander Manuel Maria Sarmento Rodrigues, accompanied by Madame Rodrigues and his personal staff, paid a short visit to Hong Kong, where they were official guests at Government House.
On 29th July, the decision of the Privy Council was announced awarding possession of forty-one former Central Air Transport Corporation Aircraft to the American company of Civil Air Transport Incorporated. Action was thereupon taken by the Hong Kong authorities to assume full control of all the disputed air- craft, including those formerly belonging to the China National Aviation Corporation, and the removal of the aircraft awarded to the American company was com- pleted early in October. On 8th October, the Supreme Court, Hong Kong, gave judgment in favour of Civil Air Transport Incorporated in regard to the aircraft and spare parts formerly belonging to the China National Aviation Corporation, thus concluding the complicated litigation of the past three years.
Elections to the Urban Council were held, for the first time since before the war, at the end of May. There were nine nominations for two vacant seats. The campaigning of the candidates followed the traditional lines of manifestos and public meetings and broadcast- ing facilities were also made available to the candidates, for the first time, on Radio Hong Kong. Mr. Brook Bernacchi of the Reform Club and Mr. S. T. Louey of the Kowloon Residents' Association were elected.
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