002 12
Cms
Ref.:
CO 537/1427
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
2
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
002 13
(C.A.A. 1).
No.303 (CA) 6031 (45)
CIVIL AFFAIRS ADMINISTRATION, 7.
Hong Kongxix Bhanghai Bands Building,
Hong Kong.
21st February, 1946.
2
Cms
Ref.:
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
CO 537/1427
restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright
Dear Lloyd,
Ї
VED
MAR 1946
COL. OFFICE
I have certain recommendations to make with regard to the administration of Civil Aviation in the Colony which the Governor may possibly wish to consider if this question is raised in London before his departure.
In 1941, as you are aware, the Harbour Master carried the additional title of Director of Air Services and bore on his establishment a number of technically qualified officers who formed the Directorate of Air Services. Except that a senior official was the titular head, this arrangement had little to recommend it and showed no real saving in personnel or increase in efficiency. The effect on the air staff was discouraging in that none could hope to reach the top of the department in which he had made his career. The growing importance of air trans- port probably means that a separate department should be established and the resumption of civil administration might provide an appropriate and convenient occasion for the change to be made.
It is clearly impossible, at this stage, to submit detailed proposals for the composition of the new department. The answer to such questions as whether staff will be needed at one or two airports, whether the flying boat base will be contigious to or at a distance from the landplane base and whether airfield flying control will be a civil commitment or will be shared by the Royal Air Force, cannot be given without a clearer knowledge of future plans. No doubt an increase of staff above pre-war level will eventually be necessary, but the separation of the Directorate from une Harbour Department will not itself affect this.
Under present circumstances there would appear
to be no justification for the creation of separate posts for the Director d the Airport Manager, and, as an interim arrangement, I would make the following suggestions us regards personnel:
(a)
(b)
(c)
(a)
The Directorate of Air Services to be abolished and replaced by a separate body to be called the "Department of Civil Aviation".
The Superintendent of Airport be appointed "Director of Civil Aviation and Airport Manager".
The Assistant Superintendent be appointed "Deputy Director and Deputy Airport Manager".
The Marine Supervisor be appointed to fill the vacant post in the establish- ment of Assistant Superintendent and to be called an "Airport Officer".
}