CO129-502-4 Acquisition of Kai Tak for an aerodrome- provision of funds 11-1-1927 - 12-5-1927 — Page 107

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importance is attached on imperial grounds.

6.

As regards the bearing of article nineteen of the Washington Treaty on the proposal to construct an aerodrome in Hong Kong, I have the honour to point out

that this aerodrome will be constructed primarily for

commercial and for police purposes, and in this respect

I take it the Colony has complete freedom of action. After its construction the aerodrome will also (as at

present intended) be made available by the Hong Kong Government for use by His Majesty's Air Force, and in this

connection I invite attention to a letter, dated the 16th

October, 1926, written by Lieutenant Colonel L.R. Hill, Military Attaché at Tokyo, to Sir John Tilley, who forwarded a copy of it to the Foreign Office under cover of a third personal note dated the 21st October, 1926. Lieutenant

Colonel Hill refers to the intention of the Japanese Minis-

try for War to station one of the new formations of Military

Air Force (No. 8 Wing) in Southern Formosa and adds:-

"The American Military Attaché informed me recently that

he has reported to Washington that the move is contemplated

and has learned that the question (i.e. of the bearing of

article nineteen of the Washington Treaty on such a step)

has been referred to the legal authorities in that capital

who have ruled that, in their opinion, the step would not

constitute an infringement of the Washington Treaty".

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Governor, &c.