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147
From the defence point of view it
appeared that the local 0.0.0. was opposed to the
project as increasing the defence commitments of
Hong Kong, while the opinion of the Air Marshal
aho had recently visited Hong Kong was in favour
of the project.
Mr. Pitzmaurice pointed out that there
were really two separate questions.
(1)
(2)
The advantages of setting up a factory.
The question of whether, if the factory
were set up, it could be permitted to export
seroplanee to China and Japan during the present
hostilities.
Mr. Bigg saked if the Cabinet decision
applied to aeroplanes exported from British
territory to private firms in China, as he
understood that the decision was taken upon a
project of Madame Chiang Kai Shex'a to set up an
assemuling plant under the control of the Chinese
Government in Hong Kong territory.
Mr. Henderson
said that there was no legal obligation upon
Hong Kong not to export aeroplanes to either of
the belligerents during the present struggle since
a legal state of war did not exist, but that it was
felt here that it would be dangerous to do so. The
Cabinet decision se embodied in the telegram sent
to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at Nanking
covered all aircraft (except ambulance aircraft),
2.
eince