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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

22923/15/46

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Palace Chambers, Rridge Street,

3.W.1.

Sid August, 1946.

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CO 537/1427

restnctions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' 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

leaßet.

Dear Jones,

Please refer to your letter

No. R.12475/46 of the 3rd June about the provision of an aerodromo suitable for modern civil transport aircraft in the How TerritorioD, Hong Kong

We do

You are correct in your assumption that there is no treaty objection to the construction of an airfield in the leaved aron, On the other hand, as you will remember, when work waa commenced on the enlargement of the Kai Tak airfield, the Chinese Government (through their representative in Hong Kong) took the line that in view of the short period (52 years) remaining of the lease of the New Territories, they should have been consulted on such a pro ješ t. not admit that they had any such right, but it was unnecessary to pursue the matter since the project was, in fact, abandoned, the Chinese Goverment believing no doubt (although erroneously) that this decision arose out of their representations. If we were now to embark on the construction of another large airfield in the New Territories without prior consultation with the Chinese Government, it is probable that they would make similar representations and the Foreign Office may conceivably take the view that the new project should at leust be mentioned to the Chinese (löverment before work is actually

started.

MAJOR H, JOU23, K.B.E.

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