29
the Air Ministry representative the question
of the amount of the contribution which can
reasonably be expected towards the Kai Tak
expenditure from Home funds. I submit for
approval a draft semi-official letter to
Mr. Bridges.
Recire pop quality to me
after action)
に
8.1.57
The discussion with Mr Bridges was not entire-
ly satisfactory, but this was, I fancy, due to
the fact that he was not really familiar with
the facts, and had possibly not been very
accurately posted by Mr Grey or whoever had
intially dealt with the papers.
I tried to make it quite clear that we
regarded the Hong Kong Govt. as entitled, beyond
a peradventure, to a substantial immediate
payment on account of the expense to which they
had been put at Kai Tak Aerodrome at the
instigation of the local Air Force officers.
I pointed out that the Air Ministry themselves
had agreed to regard a half share of the total
cost as an equitable contribution from H. M. G.;
but I reluctantly agreed to iscuss this
proportion further if the Treasury insisted.
But I was not able to agree, without reference
to higher authority, to any further postponement
of a settlement of this claim while discussion
of the general question was proceeding. The
case of Kai Tak stands by itself, and nas