CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 402

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Hong Kong station within 5-10 years it is quite possible that Hong Kong might prefer to put up the money and get on with the job if they could be re-imbursed later. On the other hand they might prefer to proceed with some other scheme.

I suppose it is no use our kicking, but Hong Kong should be informed of the altered intentions of His Majesty's Government and the reasons for the change, as soon as possible.

Mr.E. J. Harding,

H.B. 10.4.22.

In view of the big questions of policy involved I do not think we can press Hong Kong's desire for a link in the chain. Singapore is to my mind the essential one. But you might note to let Hong Kong know the decision as soon as possible, so that they can get on with the project for increasing the power of their own station if they

want to.

G. G.

10.4.22.

See copy of letter to Sir J.Chancellor attached written after consultation with Sir J.Masterton-

Smith.

(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S

GOVERNMENT)

COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE

IMPERIAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE.

IMPERIAL WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS WIRELESS CHAIN STATIONS.

-

With reference to the draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Imperial Communications Committee held on March 30th, 1922 it was discovered, when detailed estimates of the financial effect of the proposals outlined in the first paragraph on page 6 of the Minutes were made, that the proposals involved an increase of capital expenditure and not a decrease as had been assumed when the proposals were being considered by the Committee.

In these circumstances, the Chairman summoned a conference on the 4th April, at which Sir Henry Norman, Mr.E.J. Harding, Mr.F.J. Brown, Dr.W.H. Eccles, and the Secretary and Assistant Secretary were present, with a view to devising a scheme which would effect the object of the Committee i.e. of maintaining Government control of the Imperial Wireless Chain, and at the same time show a saving.

The Conference approved the scheme set forth in the annexed Memorandum for submission to the Cabinet.

The Memorandum is now submitted for your approval.

(Sd) J. R. Chancellor,

Whitehall Gardens, S.W.,

7th April 1922.

Secretary.