expenditure, e.g. the airfield project
estimated to cost £4,000,000. It has
been strongly represented by the Governor
and others that it is essential for the
Colony to have an air port of international
standing if it is to regain and retain its
former importance and prosperity.
There is
only one possible site for such an airport
in the ceded part of the Colony. It is
estimated that it would cost over £10,000,000
and take 4 years to construct an air port on
that site, and there is also the possibility
that further examination may disclose insuperable
technical difficulties. The alternative site
is in the New Territories and it is estimated
that the cost of construction there would be
less than half the above estimate, or
approximately £4,000,000, and the period of
construction only 18 months, as compared with
4 years.7"
On looking through the annexures again, I feel
that, for the purpose of the submission of the paper to
the Ministerial Committee, we ought to revise and
amplify paragraph 2 (including the passage in square
brackets at the end of it) of Annexure II. I would
propose, therefore, that the following paragraphs should
be substituted for this paragraph:-
an
"2. Joint control and management of that
part of the water supply system which would
run beyond the Colony's new boundary.
3. Continued control of any other important
installations in the New Territories, e.g. the
airport, if constructed.
4. Grant of facilities to the Hong Kong
Government for constructing any further
installations
Page 190Page 191