CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 394

1

may

Siffer somewhat from those expront

In $7531

it will be sufficient

and perhaps it

for the moment if an

? comprarte reply

that *

Apy of thuischen

wil be forwarded Gov. for common but

si vice of the posent financial situation

to intly anticipated that

That L

it нк бол.

11:

8 Blaining

L

in difficulty in ping Beare the cost will be willing

Bi

esuvalisus.

and send copy

Corris.

Kor. Seant

with cuch. I mig

ref 515311 asking

ILi

Accomm

for conson

it may

Rin astmal

report

appor, qually

and for JAM proposals

Ok

whethe

"the arguments

K

Sefence

The practicability-

the cost invotred.

copy reply

copy

1 A.M. 15

Aday? scant LFF

W.0. J

Comes with AM. 15

Trees

Fo.

1.0.

c.1.0.

}

Jund LFF

I ry on 51531

Tallularbuck

3.12.25

Becker

G.G. u.11

4.12.25 Aldem

TEL. No. HOLBORN 3434.

Any communications on the subject of this letter should be addressed to:-

THE SECRETARY,

A MINISTRY,

ADASTRAL House,

KINGSWAY,

LONDON, W.C.2.

and the following number quoted:-

S.24154/S.6.

440

Sir,

AIR MINISTRY,

Aerodrome Site at Hong Kong.

LONDON, W.C.2.

November, 1925.

381

I am commanded by the Air Council to refer to a report

by the Chiefs of Staff (paragraph 5, C.I.D. Paper No. 248-C),

in regard to the possible future need of an aerodrome in the

vicinity of Hong Kong, and to acquaint you, for the information

of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that they have

recently received reports which suggest that the question of

effecting certain reservations on what is now reported as the

only suitable site for an air base at Hong Kong should now be

considered.

The Kowloon reclamation area, the site in question,

is owned by the Kai Tak Company who are reported to have failed

financially and to be anxious to sell. At the present time

a part of the reclaimed area is being used as an aerodrome by

a flight of aircraft from H.M.S. Hermes at a low rental of one

dollar per month.

In their report (C.I.D. Paper No. 617-B), the Chiefs

of Staff suggested that local interests in Hong Kong might be expected to contribute in some way towards military expenditure

on the defence of Hong Kong. It is known that the Hong Kong

Government would have been willing in 1922 to contribute towards

the cost of a local aerodrome site provided that some Air Force

unit were permanently stationed there in peace time.

Although the present situation does not warrant the

permanent location of an air base at Hong Kong, it might be necessary, in the event of the growth of the present unrest

in China and the development of Chinese air forces, to establish

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

Downing Street,

S.W.1.