CO537-(1262-1649) — Page 669

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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 py is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copynight

Tel. No.

HOLBORN 3434, Ext.

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R. 8439/D. A. S. (A).

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22923/15/46

MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION,

ARIEL HOUSE,

STRAND,

LONDON, W.C.2.

20th May, 1946.

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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

Dear Bigg,

54/45 Please refer to your letter (No.1145/14/46) dated 27th April regarding the provision of an international airport for Hong Kong, and asking what proportion of the total cost we should be prepared to meet from M.C.A. Votes.

Our financial interest in Hong Kong is governed

by the extent of the provision necessary to meet the requirements of U.K. Operators. We shall be in a better position to say what these are when the B.O.A.C. Missions now visiting the area have completed their surveys and reported. But in any case before deciding to contribute to a £4,000,000 airport project we should need to have, and should be grateful if you could help to provide, a more realistic and documented appreciation of the traffic possibilities of Hong Kong, and the likelihood of its developing attractions superior to those of Canton as a focal point of international traffic services. The main interest in the project from that angle is in fact Colonial, deriving from the desire of the Colonial authorities to establish Hong Kong as an international airport in rivalry with Canton. It seems unlikely that our contribution on that basis could be considerable.

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Meanwhile we are proposing to rely on flying

Yours sincerely,

22 MAY 1946

W.J. Bigg,

Colonial Offide,

Palace Chambers,

Bridge Street,

London, W.1.

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