ALL COMMUNICATIONS
TO BE ADDRESSED TO THE
CROWN AGENTS FOR THE COLONIES.
THE FOLLOWING REFERENCE AND THE
DATE OF THIS LETTER BEING QUOTED.
W/Hong Kong 6693.
TELEGRAMS: CROWN, LONDON."'
TELEPHONE: VICTORIA 7730.
( Devi
CROWN
AGENTS
hem
FOR
THE
COLONIES
10
4, MILLBANK,
LONDON, S.W.1..
19th November 1934.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 18th October No.33839/1934 transmitting a copy of a
despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong regarding certain
tests at the William Froude National Tank, the National
Physical Laboratory, Teddington, in connection with the new
No. 1 Police launch.
2.
I attach, for the information of the Secretary of 18.10.34. State, a copy of a letter received from the National Physical
Aust
A
Laboratory estimating that the cost of the experiment work
involved will be between £290 and £350.
3. The number of firms in Hong Kong accustomed to
building such vessels would be limited but there is a number
of firms at home with this experience and as the cost of ship-
building at the present time in this country is low we consider
that it would be in the interests of the Hong Kong Government
if we were to obtain simultaneous tenders from British
shipbuilders. In this connection we would point out that in
1928 simultaneous tenders were invited for a vessel for the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate both in Melbourne and
in this country, the result being that a firm of British ship-
builders obtained the order at a price £4,000 lower than the
Melbourne tenderer, on a total contract figure of £24,000
/including
The Under Secretary of State,
COLONIAL OFFICE,
S.W. 1.
CA