CO129-508-8 Plans and reports on proposed aerodrome at Kai Tak 11-1-1928 - 21-12-1928 — Page 75

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emergencies as that which occurred last year, be confined to

the use of the landing ground by units of the Fleet Air Arm

accompanying the Fleet and the provision of buildings of

purely temporary construction.

The Council are not aware of the views of the Hong

Kong Government regarding the immediate development of any civil

air communications with Hong Kong and as they have not been:

approached on this subject by any parties likely to be interested

in this country they had assumed that the development of the

site as

a civil air port would be a matter for future

consideration.

They attach great importance to any proposed layout

of the station for civil air communications being such that

it would meet Royal Air Force requirements if at a later date

it were decided to station units permanently at Hong Kong, and

are equally anxious that any developments contemplated by the

Government of Hong Kong should not impair the value of the site

for the purposes for which it is at present being used by the

Fleet Air Arm or for which it may be required in the event of

Royal Air Force units being sent to Hong Kong to meet a

temporary emergency.

If this is a correct analysis of the position the

Council assume that the advice required by the Hong Kong

Government in the immediate future would relate to the prepara-

tion of the aerodrome surface, covering in nullahs, etc. having

regard to the probable layout of buildings to be erected in

future and to the probable weight of aircraft, together with

questions regarding the proposed camber for flying boats,

having regard to their weight, dimensions and draught.

Advice in regard to such questions could, the Council

think, best be given by a Civil Engineer versed in aeronautical

requirements. They regret that it will be impossible to spare

for this purpose the services of their Works Officer at

Singapore - Mr. C.E.O. Woods

though if he should elect to