I
COPY.
No. 496/1919.
CONFIDENTIAL
Enclosure 1.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG, 19th. May, 1919.
514
12.19.
Sir,
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a
Confidential Despatch that I addressed to the Secretary of State
for the Colonies in February regarding the question of establish-
ing aerial mail and passenger services,
I am informed that a French Aviation Mission
is coming to China, and, in view of the predominant position
which the French hold in the Chinese Postal Administration, it
seems probable that a strong bid will be made by them for the
privilege of inaugurating postal services in China by air.
I shall be much obliged if Your Excellency
will be so good as to inform me what steps the Chinese Govern-
ment is taking in this matter of civil aviation, and whether
there are British firms in the field. The matter is one of
considerable importance to Hongkong which, owing to its geogra-
phical position, should eventually become an important centre
on which numerous aviation lines would converge.
(sd.)
I have etc.,
CLAUD SEVERN,
Officer Administering the Government,
s Excellency
The Right Honourable
Sir John N. Jordan, G.C.I.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G.,
His Britannic Majesty's Minister,
PEKIN G.