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20.
Anse (2)
4.
It is the opinion of the Director of Air Services
that a single runway 3,170 yards long and 150 yards wide sited
as proposed by Air Commodore Darley, would meet Hong Kong's immediate
needs and that the construction of additional runways might be
deferred indefinitely. The extra width is recommended, if a single
runway is to be constructed, and a rough estimate of the additional
cost indicates that the total expenditure would still be below
£4,000,000.
5.
I am advised that the Deep Bay project will necessitate
the displacement of some 900 villagers, of whom 660 are adults.
Much of the land in this vicinity is of poor quality and is farmed
as salt paddy, giving only one rather inferior crop each year. A
scheme for the reclamation of the southern shore of Deep Bay was
under active qonsideration before the outbreak of hostilities in
order to increase the rice growing area of the New Territories and
I am of the opinion that this reclamation should be proceeded with
immediately so that the villagers affected by the airport project
may be given new homes on land adjacent to their previous villages.
Much of the local opposition to the Ping Shan scheme arose because
construction began before the question of resettlement and compensation
had been decided and although the land affected by the Deep Bay
scheme is less productive and the villagers affected smaller in number,
I intend if the project is approved to make all possible arrangements
for the resettlement of the villagers before work actually commences
on the Deep Bay site.
6.
adjace
It appears to me to be of the greatest importance that
I should be in a position to make an announcement on the subject in
the very near future, in order that the major air lines may include
Hong Kong in their plans for future air routes. You will recall that
although the Chinese National Government disclaimed any official interest
in the Ping Shan scheme which was later abandoned, considerable
unofficial political opposition was aroused because no prior notification
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