3
Mh G
Fir G. Handle 6.5.24
Mr. Eastwood left copies of these telegrams
with me, and asked that the Department would let him
have their views on the Governor's proposals.
The Governor puts up three proposals for
immediate consideration, that is,
(1) Engines for the Kowloon Canton Railway;
(2) Cross Harbour Water Pipes;
(3) Development of Aerodrome.
As regards (1) and (2), the purchase of the
engines and pipes has already been authorised (see
No. 4 on 62 26 and No. 16 on 62735), and it is quite
possible that the Crown Agents have already
contracted for them. It seems obvious that it is
not the sort of expenditure which is intended to be
met from the Colonial Development Fund, which is meant
for expenditure which the Colony itself is not able
to afford. I think, therefore, that these must be
definitely ruled out. The reasons will, no doubt,
be explained to Hong Kong in due course.
As regards (3), there has been much
correspondence about Imperial assistance towards the
cost of the Aerodrome (see 52753/28 and 62753/29).
There is clearly no possibility of getting the
decision revised so far as it relates to work already
on foot (in any case such work would, as stated above,
not fall within the proper scope of the Fund). There
remains work proposed but not yet decided upon.
This includes: (a) proposed new hangar;
(b) enlargement of the Aerodrome as
recommended by the Air Ministry
expert (see No. 30 on 52753).
As regards (a), the position is that Hong Kong
proposed