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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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Cms

Ref.:

CO 537/1427

Ins

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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

COPY.

00046

SECRET CIPHER

IMPORTANT.

From:

Governor, Hong Kong

To:

Secretary of State for the Colonies (HK1559) Dated: 27th November, 1946.

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

Ref.:

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

My despatch of 4th September, Confidential 2 Airport.

As a result of enquiries from the Air Ministry addressed to

A.O.C. Hong Kong on the possibility of siting airfield in

ceded and not leased territory and of consequent further recon-

naissance by R.A.F. and Civil officers, I now consider that the

question of utilising Stonecutters Island merits further con-

sideration.

2.

Present proposal, of which fullest possible particulars

follow by air mail, differs from that considered and rejected

in Appendix G of Darley report, see your despatch 46 of 11th

June, in that it would provide single runway of full requisite

dimensions and correctly sited for prevailing wind by joining

Stonecutters Island to the mainland at Tai Kok Tsui.

3.

involve:

4.

As compared with Deep Bay scheme this project will

(a) higher cost which cannot be estimated at present but may

approach ten, repeat ten, million pounds.

(b) somewhat longer period of construction extending perhaps

to four, repeat four, years.

(c) removal of Admiralty installations from Stonecutters

Island, including wireless station and magazines. It is

hoped that Admiralty will agree to this subject to

adequate provision being made elsewhere in ceded terri-

tory.

Against these considerations are to be set the

immense advantages, both political and strategic, of having

the airport of Hong Kong within the confines of the Colony

proper and not in leased territory. This Government has