405
To provide for such a contingency, it is essential
that an aerodrome, with facilities for seaplanes as well
The Kai Tak as for landplanes, should be available.
reclamation area on the Kowloon peninsula is not only the
best site, but practically the only suitable site, and if it
were built over the potential use of aircraft for defence
in the future would be seriously restricted. In addition
the present time appears to be favourable for purchase, and delay in acquisition now might result in heavier expenditure
at a later date.
There appears to be no possible reason from the
Treaty aspect against the acquisition of this aerodrome site.
A levelled area of ground cannot be interpreted as an
increase in coast defences. It is only when buildings
are erected and aircraft actually located on the aerodrome
that the question of legality appears to arise.
The Sub-Committee is therefore of the opinion that
the Kai Tak site should be acquired at an early date, and
recommends that the Governor of Hong Kong should be given
authority to proceed with the necessary purchase.
4.
With regard to (b), i.c. the formation of a local
police air unit at Hong Kong, it is considered that the proposals put forward will require considerable investigation, and that the question soula more appropriately be dealt with by the Local Forces Sub-Committee of the Oversea Defence
Committee.
There does not appear to be any particular urgency for the formation of this unit, and the Sub-Committee therefore recomiends that the overnor be informed that the
matter is being further investigated.
3.