ORIG on
22923/12/1A 1451
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
Typex
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
D. 20th February, 1951. R. 20th
#1
13.05 hrs.
46
No. 197.
77
22723/12/10/20
Confidential.
Your savingram No. 1256 of 1950.
Deep Bay and Kai Tak.
I have considered afresh the whole question of Deep Bay and Kai Tak and have reached the conclusion that the Deep Bay project is not practicable within the forseeable future. In these circumstances a new plan for the development of Kai Tak has been prepared and in my view, which has the support of the Executive Council, the Air Advisory Board and the Local Defence Committee, such development will meet the needs of Hong Kong for many years to come .
2.
There is no doubt that the Deep Bay is the most suitable site in the Colony for a civil airport but in my view it must be ruled out for political reasons. The site is so close to the Chinese border that inevitably and fairly frequently aircraft landing and taking off from Deep Bay would cross the Chinese border. Such a situation could only be contemplated if it was possible to say and I regret that it is not, that our relations with China are such, and are likely to be such for a considerable number of years ahead, that the Government of China would enter into an agreement permitting that situation. There is also defence objection to Deep Bay since it is so close to the border and could } shelled from land batteries in China, but the All Officer Commanding is less concerned with objections to Deep Bay as a civil airport than with encouraging developments at Kai Tak, so that service jet aircraft can operate effectively. from Kai Tak. He, therefore, is a strong supporter of development at Kai Tak.
3. It is worthy of note that operators of civil aircraft agree that Kai Tak could be developed into satisfactory civil airport.
4。 Accordingly a plan for the extension and improvement of Kai Tak has been prepared with a view to meeting satisfactorily the needs of the Comet, Bristol 175 and the Stratecruiser. My technical advisers inform me that this plan can be carried out. In coming to this decision my advisers and I have given full weight to the views of the Ministry of Civil Aviation as expressed in the enclosures to your savingram under refere ce and agree that nothing can be
/done