409
T
The
thuse sheds should be abandoned by the laval Authorities and I directed that they should be taken over and main-
tained at the expense of the Colonial Govemment.
area on which the shods stand and the open ground in front
of thom constitute an important part of the complete
scheme which I put forward in paragraphs 12, 14, 15 and 16
below.
6.
In formulating the scheme I have not overlooked
the policy outlined in "Botes on proposals for Air Base
at Hongkong" of which a copy was received from the Ceneral
Officer Commanding the Trocps, China Command, under date
4th December, 1925. It runs as follas :-
"Itnis not considered that any air menace to Hongkong
exists at the present time, from China, since the
Chinese only possess a few aircraft which could be
kept in check by our machines flown off Carriers as
soon as such vessäls are stationed on the China Station.
"Should however, developments of Chinese Air Forces
occur,
or the present situation in China be materially
altered, the Government might deem it necessary, in
order to safeguard our interests in China, to establish
an Air Base in Hongkong in spite of the difficultics
and great expense involved.
"There is however, no intention of doing so at the
moment, and consequently international questions
regarding the Treaty (Washington) do not arise.
"The establishment of a base for seaplanes at Hongkong
presents fever difficulties than forming a landplane
base. Since, however, the only justification for
forming a base at all rould be to resist Air aggression
from the Ilainland, whatever airdraft were provided
must possess the capucity to oppose with success not merely the few incfficient aircraft at Canton, but
3.
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