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Ref.:
CO 537/1427
THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES
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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
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00061
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
September, 1946.
3.
The usefulness of Kai Tak Aerodrome, the only one in the Colony, is strictly limited by topographical considerations; it is regarded as adequate from the aeronautical point of view for most known types of single-engined and twin-engined aircraft, but four- engined aircraft were, in the early days of the Military Adminis- tration, forbidden to use it at all. This prohibition has since that time been to some extent relaxed, particularly as regards certain types of civil aircraft, but the fact remains that by reason of its limited size and of the steep hills which surround it, this aerodrome is considered by the R.A.F. authorities to be of very limited usefulness for heavy aircraft of the four-engined type.
4.
The implications of the above facts can be readily
appreciated. On the basis of the Chiefs of Staff Committee's recommendations mentioned above the Colony must rely entirely for its aerial strength in the event of an emergency on units of the R.A.F. being flown in from other bases, possibly in the face of opposition from the air; the reinforcement of the Army garrison, which may very shortly be reduced to one Brigade, would have to be It is carried out, very probably at short notice, from Singapore. most desirable that the rapid reinforcement of the permanent garrison by means of air trooping should be at all times possible, but unless an additional and more suitable aerodrome with adequate ground facilities can be made available it would be most unwise to rely, except to a very limited extent, on this possibility. I am informed that night fighter aircraft cannot be operated from Kai Tak Aerodrome and in view of this fact, no matter how rapid the reinforcement of the air garrison from other bases, it would be impossible to provide protection in the air during the hours of
darkness.
5.
The Deep Bay project would be in all respects acceptable
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