COPY
Enclosure No.1.
The Intercontinent Corporation (China) Ltd.
Gloucester Hotel
His Excellency,
Hong Kong
22nd October, 1937.
187
The Officer Administering the Government.
Your Excellency,
Some time in January, 1936, Mr. Stanley Dodwell and I
commenced discussions regarding the possibility of establishing
in Hong Kong a factory for the manufacture of commercial and
military aeroplanes. The writer had undertaken three years ago
the establishment of a factory for the Chinese Government at
Hangchow to ascertain the feasibility of building aeroplanes in
the Orient with the use of Chinese labour, and it had been
definitely determined that it is extremely practicable and
economical. Following on these discussions, a Company was formed,
called the Intercontinent Corporation (China) Ltd., and registered
under the Hong Kong Ordinances on July 1st, 1936, with a
view to investigating the possibilities of this project.
In continuance of these discussions, moreover, it was
thought advisable to pursue investigations in London, where it
would be possible to consult with the Air Ministry and the Colonial
Office, and I might now mention that the reaction from both was
distinctly favourable. I spent some time in London during the past year in an effort to complete the necessary details for the
establishment of the said factory at Hong Kong with the hope of
being able to present to the Hong Kong Government a definite and
concrete plan for its consideration.
You are aware that the aviation industry has been growing
very rapidly during the past few years and factories have been
established for the first time during the past twelve months in