CO537-2187 — Page 190

expenditure, e.g. the airfield project

estimated to cost £4,000,000. It has

been strongly represented by the Governor

and others that it is essential for the

Colony to have an air port of international

standing if it is to regain and retain its

former importance and prosperity.

There is

only one possible site for such an airport

in the ceded part of the Colony. It is

estimated that it would cost over £10,000,000

and take 4 years to construct an air port on

that site, and there is also the possibility

that further examination may disclose insuperable

technical difficulties. The alternative site

is in the New Territories and it is estimated

that the cost of construction there would be

less than half the above estimate, or

approximately £4,000,000, and the period of

construction only 18 months, as compared with

4 years.7"

On looking through the annexures again, I feel

that, for the purpose of the submission of the paper to

the Ministerial Committee, we ought to revise and

amplify paragraph 2 (including the passage in square

brackets at the end of it) of Annexure II. I would

propose, therefore, that the following paragraphs should

be substituted for this paragraph:-

an

"2. Joint control and management of that

part of the water supply system which would

run beyond the Colony's new boundary.

3. Continued control of any other important

installations in the New Territories, e.g. the

airport, if constructed.

4. Grant of facilities to the Hong Kong

Government for constructing any further

installations

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