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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

1

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

22923/15746

Glasgow Herald

Big Airport Planned for Hong Kong

Hong Kong will become a leading air as well as sea port if the British Government approve a plan now being drawn up by the local Colonial authorities (reports

Reuter),

A modern airport is planned at a cost of between £3,000,000 and £4,000,000, according to a statement by the Hong Kong Colonial Secretary to the Legislative Council in reply to questions on Hong Kong's future as an international air centre.

A possible site has been found within the boundaries of the Colony, and the best possible technical advice is being sought. The Hong Kong authorities cre preparing a detailed report for London setting forth Hong Kong's potentialities as a focal point of an international civil airways network, and will ask the home Government to make an early decision.

The Hong Kong Government has not yet decided when construction of the planned new airfield will begin, as the

of question

apportioning the costs between the home Government and the Celony has still to be discussed.

The site originally proposed by the Military Government-at Pingshan, near

the Chinese border-has been turned down as unsultable. Meanwhile the old Kai Tak airfield is being used as the base for the Dakota squadron of the Royal Air

Force.

The field was built in the early days of civil aviation in Hong Kong, principally to meet the requirements of two-engined aircraft connecting the Colony with China, During the occupation the Japanese enlarged the fleld beyond recognition, and now there are longer runways for the heawer types of aircraft developed during the war years.

Hedged in by mountains and the city of Kowloon, the present airfield at Kai Tak has often been described by pilots as one of the most difficult fields on which to land. It has the advantage, however, of lying off Kowloon Bay, a sheltered stretch of water, where Sunderland fly. ing boats anchor.

Once the Government's plan has been approved by London and the necessary financial arrangements have been com- pleted, work will begin on the construc- tion of a modern airfield to make Hong Kong a leading air centre in the Far East.

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