Extract from the South China Morning Post of December 21, 1929.
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THE FLYING CLUB.
INAUGURATED AT CITY
HALL MEETING.
GOVERNOR ON FUTURE FAR EAST AERIAL DEVELOPMENT.
OFFICERS APPOINTED.
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Hongkong Flying
Club yesterday, His Excellency the Governor said the Government was determined to leave nothing undone to assist Hongkong in becoming one of the best air-ports in the Far East. He said the possibilities of aviation in China were limitless, and referred to early days of travel in the country when journeys through the provinces occupied months. He had heard it said that a German company contemplated an air service from Berlin to Peking in five days. If Hongkong could connect with such a service in two days such developments would completely revolutionise life in the Far East.
Resolutions were passed at the meeting forming the Hongkong Flying Club and authorising certain officers named below to proceed generally with its organisation.
OBJECTS OF THE
OF THE CLUB OUTLINED.
The meeting was held in the City Hall, His Excellency the Governor presiding. Others pre- sent were the Hon. Mr. W. T. Southorn, Commodore R. A. S. Hill, H. E. Major General J. W. Sandi- lands, the Hon. Mr. H. T. Creasy, the Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, the Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton, the Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow, the Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, the Hon. Dr. S. W. T'so. the Hon. Mr. J. P. Braga, the Hon. Commander G. F. Hole, Sir Robert Ho Tung, Colonel L. G. Bird, Professor Middleton Smith, Captain K. V. B. Benfield, Wing Commander A. H. S. Steele- Perkins, Mr. E. I. Wynne Jones, Mr. R. Vaughan-Fowler, Lt. Com- mander W. B. Keith, Mr. A. W. Summers, and Mr. A. Ritchie. There were also about fifty pro- spective members of the Flying Club present, including two ladies.
His Excellency the Governor was accompanied by Captain F. G. Sillitoe, A. D. C. Addressing the meeting he said.-
Gentlemen,-We are met here this afternoon, in order to con- stitute a Flying Club in Hongkong. It is a great pleasure to me to pre- side over a meeting held for this purpose, and I am exceedingly glad
that the Club is to be constituted before I leave Hongkong. The objects of the Club are as follows:
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(e) To provide another op- portunity for social intercourse be- tween all communities in this Colony without distinction of race or class.
Government Determination.
Hongkong is already the greatest shipping-port in the Far East, and the Government and the people of this Colony are determined to leave nothing undone which may assist Hongkong to take its rightful place as one of the best, if not the very best, of the air-ports in the Far East. The Hongkong Government, with the full support and encour- agement of His Majesty's Govern- ment, has now almost completed the construction of the Kai-tak aero- drome at the head of Kowloon bay. We are also about to erect, again with the assistance of His Majesty's Government, a suitable hangar in this aerodrome, capable of housing not only the flying machines of the Royal Air Force, but also those in- tended for commercial aviation and for the use of the Flyin- Club.
Moreover, the Hongkong Govern- ment attaches so much importance to the establishment of a Flying Club in the Colony that the Legisla- tive Council has voted $60,000 as an initial grant to the Club and has also undertaken to pay the Club an annual subsidy of $30,000. These votes have received the ap- proval of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, and we are met to day to inaugurate the Club, so that it may be in a position to com- mence work early in next vear.
Possibilities in Far East.
The Great War, and still more the years subsequent to the Great War, have demonstrated the im- mense possibilities of aviation, both military and commercial. Hitherto the Far East has in this respect laced behind; but the opportuni- ties here are infinite, and I am con- fident that from small beginnings
we shall lay the foundations of very important aerial developments.
We hope that in this matter we shall have the co-operation of China, who is our nearest neighbour, and not only of China, but of Japan, the Philippine Islands, Macao, Kwang- chouwan, French Indo-China and
Siam.
I do not, of course, suggest that 'members of the Hongkong Flying Club will at the outset wing their way all over the countries I have (b)) To create air-mindedness Innamed; but the remarkable achieve- this Colony;
(a) To provide flying instruc- tion:
(c) To make better known In the Far East British flying machines and British methods of flying:
(d) To provide the necessary training for the nucleus of al Volunteer Air Squadron;
!ments of airmen and airwomen in Europe suggest that in the near future flights from Hongkong may be made quite often along the whole west coast of the Pacific, and even further still.
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The possibilities for aviation in China appear to me to be limitless. for aviation has begun at a time when the Eighteen Provinces possess very few railways, in com- parison with their size,--some of them none at all.- when scarcely any trunk roads suitable for motor traffic have been built, and when the lawlessness ashore and piracy at sea suggest that the air may be a safer medium of transport than land or water.
experience by the formation of a Flying Section, and to offer facilities for sport and social inter-
course.
The First Officers. The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock pro- posed "that the undermentioned persons shall be the first members The club would be registered with of the General Committee and are limited liability on the lines of authorised to take such steps as other clubs in the Colony and the
may be necessary for the prepara- membership would be irrespective tion of the memorandum and arti- of nationality, being subject only cles of association of the Club and to the votes of the members of the the bye-laws, and that they are committee. He
went on to deal further authorised to proceed with the officers, and said the Pre- generally with the organisation of A Picture of Olden Days.
sident and the Government Re- the proposed Club.- Moreover. the speed of aerial presentative would be nominated Wing Commodore.-The Hon. communication is astonishing. I
by His Excellency the Governor Mr. W. E. L. Shenton. can remember how toilfully, years
In addition there would be one. Naval Representative.--Lt. Com- ago, I made my way on foot and on
Naval and one Military representa-mander W. B. Keith, R. N. horseback through most of the
tive, and also one from the Royal Military Representative.-Capt. Eighteen Provinces of China. The
Air Force. Other officers would be K. V. B. Benfield, D.S.O., M. C., various journeys occupied months-
the Secretary, Treasurer and Club (G.S.O. III. China Command.). one of them almost a year.
But Captain, together with six other now a flight
members from Hongkong to
each to be elected at Peking should easily be made in two annual meeting. days. A flight to Ch'eng-tu Szechuan, or Lanchou-fu Kansu should take no longer; and a flight to Hankow or Yunnan-fu might be made in a day.
in in
I have heard it said that the Ger- man Lufthansa contemplates a fly- ing service from Berlin to Peking in five days. If from Hongkong we can connect with such a service in two days, the journey to Eng- 'land would take little more than a week. Such developments will completely revolutionize life in the Far East and will bring the mother country much closer to Hongkong and, as I hope, thereby assist our people better to understand Hong- kong and to give Hongkong larger measure of their interest and support. The best way for us to assist in such developments is to create air-mindedness in this Colony, and the best way to create air-mindedness is to form a Flying
Club.
Preparatory Work.
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The preparatory work for the formation of a Hongkong Flying Club was largely done by Mr. Vaughan-Fowler, whose unbounded enthusiasm and wide experience as an airman has enabled us to present to you to-day an attractive scheme for its inauguration.
I have appointed the Honourable Mr. W. E. L. Shenton to be the first Wing Commodore and President of the Club, and I now invite him to explain to you in outline the pro- posed draft constitution of the Club. You will then be asked to approve of these proposals in prin- ciple and to appoint a committee to work out the necessary details.
Club Organisation. The objects of the proposed club were outlined by the Hon. Mr. W. E. L. Shenton who said that the details of the organisation would be worked out by the Committee. The objects of the Club, he said, were to teach the principles of fly- ing, to offer the Government trained pilots and engineers in the event of an emergency, to gain aerial
his
Mr. Summers had offered services as secretary and Mr. Ritchie had undertaken the duties of Honorary Treasurer until the club was a going concern.
Royal Air Force.-Wing Com- mander A. H. S. Steele-Perkins, O.B.E., R. A. F.
Government Representative. The Hon. Commander G. F. Hole, R. N. (retired).
Honorary Secretary.-Mr. A. W. Summers.
Honorary
Ritchie.
Treasurer. Mr. A.I
Club Captain.--Mr. E. I. Wynne-
Jones.
Committee.--Mr. R.
General Vaughan-Fowler.
Forms of Membership. Dealing with the membership of the club, the Hon. Mr. Shenton said there would be flying, subscribing members and also or associate honorary members. The former would pay a larger entrance fee and subscription and would be called upon to sign a declaration. This was in consideration of the financial Proposing a vote of thanks to assistance received from, the Gov His Excellency the Governor, the ernment, which naturally desired to Hon. Mr. Shenton said that ne ren? secure the services of the club insure the club would be a successful the event of a crisis.
The Hon. Sir Shou-son Chow seconded and the motion was car- ried unanimously.
one. Replying, His Excellency ex- the pressed thanks and wished was
Hongkong Flying Club every pos- sible success in the future.
The form of declaration similar to that adopted by other flying clubs and provided that in the event of the Governor declaring a state of emergency, a flying mem- ber placed his services at the dis- ' posal of the Government, subject, to any obligations which may at- tach to him as a member of the Flying Club.
He added that the entrance fee for flying members would be $30 and that for subscribing members $20. The former would pay monthly subscription of $5 and the latter $3.
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It was the intention of the Gov- ernment to give special facilities to members of the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps who would be given free instruction in avia- tion on terms to be decided by the Governor in Council. The Com- mittee would draw up rules and re- gulations to control flying and for the conduct of the Club generally.
The Hon. Mr. Shenton then pro- posed that the Hongkong Flying Club be formed, Mr. R. Vaughan- Fowler seconding. The motion was carried unanimously when put to the meeting by His Excellency the Governor.
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