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SUPPLEMENTARY MEMORANDUM
FOR THE USE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
AT THE MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL
DEFENCE ON 6TH APRIL 1927.
HAI TAK Woodene Hong Kong
In the last paragraph of the Colonial
Office memorandum 294 C., it is suggested that
the whole cost of the Aerodrome should be borne
by His Majesty's Government. However, in the
despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, which
forms an appendix of the memorandum, the Governor
suggests that an important part of the cost should
be borne by Hong Kong. It is therefore probable
that the Secretary of State will be pressed by
his colleagues to make some such concession.
It is thought that the Secretary of State
might go so far as to allow half the cost, which
would be paid in the first instance by the Air
Ministry, to be regarded as a loan, without interest,
to Hong Kong, to be repaid as and when the financial
position of the Colony improves. It is understood
of course that such a loan must not involve Treasury
control of the finances.
The Secretary of State might also inform
the other members of the Committee that since the
memorandum was prepared a proposal has been submitted
by the Governor to obtain material for the reclamation
by dredging the harbour, instead of by cutting away
the land at the back of the reclamation. The
additional cost involved is $753,000 which is equivalent
roughly to £75,300; but the time for completing the reclamation would be diminished from 3 to 12 years.
As
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