HONE:
HOLBORN 3434
Extn. 41
Any communications on the subject of this letter should
be addressed to :-
THE
UNDER SECRETARY
OF STATE
and the following number quoted :-
S.42436/S.6.
Sir,
AIR MINISTRY,
1689
LONDON, W.C.2.
SECRE T.
||
November, 1938.
117.
With reference to Colonial Office letter No. 53846/38
of 24th October, 1938, regarding a proposal to establish in
Hong Kong a factory for the assembly of aircraft, I am commanded
by the Air Council to acquaint you, for the information of the
Secretary of State for the Colonies, that while in their opinion
the establishment in the Far East of an aircraft factory under
British control would be advantageous, Hong Kong is not the
best location for the purpose.
2. On strategic grounds, Burma appears to the Council
to have much more in its favour, and unless the financial
support available is sufficient to provide for more than one
factory, the Council would prefer to see it located there.
On the other hand the Council consider that the establishment
of an aircraft factory at Hong Kong associated with American
interests might be of advantage in influencing the Japanese to
The Under-Secretary of State,
AZMED
CHE
Colonial Office,
Whitehall
S.W.1.