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applied primarily under the supervision of the R.A.F. Works: Service, thereafter to be handed over to the Public Works Department for any further work of re-instatement that might be necessary.
Air Facilities in China
8.
Developments in acquiring certain concessions in regard to the use of Chinese airfields, whilst not directly concerned with the re-habilitation of Hong Kong, are, however, worthy of mention as Hong Kong is a focal point for air routes along the China Coast. As is only to be expected, negotiations with the Chinese have been long drawn out but progress has been made. Approval has. been given and arrangements are almost complete for the estab- lishment of a Staging Post at Shanghai. Moreover, the Chinese have agreed to the use of any airfield in an emergency by R.A.F. aircraft.
9. This latter agreement referred to above does not always operate smoothly and appears sometimes to be subject to the whims of local commanders, as evidenced by the two incidents at Hainan where Sunderland flying boats force-landed due to bad weather and were impounded. The second incident took place after assurances from Chungking that unrestricted use could be made of Chinese airfields in emergency. When the case was represented to them the controlling authorities at Canton took immediate steps to have the Sunderlands released. It is signifi- cant that the attitude of the local Chinese forces toward visiting aircraft depends very largely upon the example set by the local commanders. On occasions the utmost courtesy has been shown; at other times this has been conspicuous by its absence. This may well be due to the fact that some Chinese officers, on such occasions are averse to foreigners and can see no good reason why they should assist in any way.
Operational
10. 96(T) and 209(GR) Squadrons are now based at Kaitak. The former is equipped with Dakotas, the latter with Sunderlands V's. 132(F) Squadron was based at Kaitak up to the middle of March when orders for its disbandment were received. The operational commitments of a fighter squadron had, until then, been negligible with the exception of a few anti-piracy patrols. The retention of this squadron in Hong Kong depended
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upon the Chiefs of Staff's plans for the size and commit- ments of a permanent post-war garrison in Hong Kong. Albeit, the presence of the well-known "Spitfire" in Hong Kong has enhanced British prestige in China. The local authorities in Canton were undoubtedly flattered and impressed at our acceptance of their invitation for a squadron to fly to Canton and to be on show to the local populace. This visit, which was a great success, did much to cement the already cordial relations which exist between Canton and Hong Kong.
11.
A great deal of work has been put in by 209 Squadron since its arrival in November, 1945. The flying boats, which had just come off an operational role, were stripped of their armament and have been used solely for transportation. Their principal commit- ment was the maintenance of the Hong Kong and Singapore service which has been operating regularly three times a week for the last 4 months. In addition, special flights have been arranged to meet emergency calls and the flying boats of 209 Squadron have operated to Tokyo, Shanghai, Sydney, Penang, Rangoon, Saigon, Ceylon and Calcutta and a new service from Hong Kong to Tokyo has recently been launched. This service involves one flying boat a week which carries mail and high priority passengers to Tokyo via Kure. In all, 209 Squadron have flown 2180 hours. There are two accidents to report. A flying boat was holed taking off from Seletar in the dark and was successfully beached at Hong Kong without injury to passengers or crew; and a collision between a Sunderland and a launch at Calcutta cost the life of an officer in the launch, the Sunderland Captain being exonerated from all blame by the subsequent Court of Inquiry.
12. Transport Command services have been operating on an increasing scale from Hong Kong since September. Details of such services are set out in Appendix 'A'. In all, 10,522 passen- gers and 1,202,781 lbs. of freight and mail have been carried in or out of the Colony by R.A.F. Transport Command aircraft and 209 Squadron. Two accidents have occurred. A Dakota flying from Leyte to Hong Kong in September, 1945, was successfully ditched and the passengers and crew rescued by the Royal Navy. A second Dakota operating between Hong Kong and Saigon was ditched near Hainan on 4th January, 1946. Unfortunately, three passengers of this aircraft were drowned despite the gallant attempts by the Captain and the crew to effect their rescue.
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