77
(13)
(5)olb) in
33816/34
course, a Military Lands Account transaction, and has not to our knowledge been finally completed", and the
Air Ministry, who have evidently overlooked the
explanation of the Military Lands Account and Hong
Kong's defence obligations given to them semi-officially
in 1934 (see paragraph 2 above), appear to regard such
transfers as free, and as representing (non-existent)
obligation on the part of the Colony to provide lands
free for defence purposes. The supposition that the
Air Ministry have mistaken the nature of the Military
Lands Account is strengthened by their reference in
paragraph 4 of this letter to an alleged undertaking
by the Hong Kong Government in 1934 to provide them
gratis with land where necessary. No trace of any
such undertaking has been found in Colonial Office
papers; and it can only be concluded that the Air
Ministry refer to the proposal made by the Government
to open an Air Ministry Lands Account, which was
rejected by the Secretary of State (see paragraph 3
above), but had presumably been discussed with military
and R. A. F. representatives in Hong Kong.
8.
In paragraph 6 the Air Ministry presume that
the terms of relinquishment of the buildings erected at
the expense of the Air Ministry should be made the
subject of special negotiations as cases arise. This
was agreed to in the case of Kai Tak, in a Colonial
Office
(9) om
5365 4/35
incire!
*
The last letter from the War Office (6.5.36.) was to the effect that a report was awaited from Hong Kong and that a further communication would be sent to the Colonial Office in due course.