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of land by the Colony to the War Office
consequently represents only the
reprovision of lands to the War Department
in exchange for lands previously surrendered
by them. It is clear that an analogous
arrangement is not feasible in the case of
the Air Ministry.
3. Mr. Ormsby Gore regrets that this matter
has not yet been settled, but in the
circumstances he is unable to recommend
to the Hong Kong Government that Royal Air
Force aerodromes should be furnished free
of charge, nor that the claim to Crown Rent
should be abandoned. He anticipates,
moreover, that the Hong Kong Government
may find it necessary to suspend action
as far as possible on any further alienation
or preparation of land for Royal Air Force
purposes until some (satisfactory arrangement
has been reached.
4.
!
I am further to state that there
seems to be no reason further to delay the
payment