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sir,
APPENDIX III.
Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governor,
Pong Kong
23rd June, 1926.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Secret despatch of the 17th of February, regarding the defence of Hong Kong against oversea attack, and of your Secret despatch of the 18th of February relating to the aerial defence of the Colony and the provision of
a site for an aerodrome.
x
2. The whole question of the defence of Hong Kong is being examined in the first instance by a Sub-Committee of the Chiefs of Staffs of the three Services, and your
despatches have been referred to the Committee for its
consideration.
3. I understand that, so far as the proposals for
an Air Force are concerned, the view expre.sed in the joint memorandum which you enclosed in your despatch
of the 17th of February as to the effect of the Washington
Treaty is open to question, and that a proposal will
shortly be made to the Committee of Imperial Defence that
the interested Governments should be invited to a
conference with a view to reaching agreed conclusions as
to the interpretation of Article 19 of the Treaty.
Pending the results of such a conference it would not
appear that the proposals for the creation of an Air
Force or for the purchase of land for an aerodrome can
usefully be pursued.
I have etc.
(Signed) L. S. AMERY.
not reproduced.
x Appendix II.
418