CO129-498-13 Recommendations to strengthen defences against overseas attack- practicability of Air Ministry proposals and estimate of... 18-2-1926 - 18-2-1926 — Page 9

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cannot be doubted that geographical considerations

alone will make the Colony an essential stage in

any scheme that may be developed either for communication

with the interior of China or for connecting China

with Singapore and so with lines to Europe and to

Australia.

10.

I recognise the fact that conditions in

in

of the Colony, and perhaps of China, will make seaplanes generally preferable to landplanes, yet I consider it essential to reserve sufficient ground for landplanes alo. The policy outlined in the Air Ministry notes, to which reference is made in paragraph 6 above, shows that these may become necessary. Lighter-than-air craft, the development of which is foreshadowed, will,I under- stand require nearly as much ground space for mooring etc., as it is proposed in this scheme to reserve for land planes. Moreover, there is no other ground in the Colony or in the New Territory which offers even moderately good facilities for conversion into an aerodrome; and, if the Kai Tak ground is lost, no other could replace it.

11.

Pending further experience of local flying conditions, and indications as to the best policy to pursue, I consider it advisable to acquire more than the bare minimum of ground necessary to deal with the comparatively modest requirements of the present day. It is for these reasons that I put forward a suggestion for the acquisition of the whole of the Kai Tak reclamation area (coloured buff on the plan). Much of the work of reclamation has yet to be done, out it is in my view necessary to regain complete control of the whole area, retaining the power to carry out further reclamation as circumstances may demand.

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