CO129-526-15 Leased territories- boundaries and developments with maps and photographs 20-5-1930 - 9-1-1931 — Page 15

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of the Navy, as that on the island is not sufficient for its

purposes.

(d) Air. Government have prepared an aerodrome base at Kai

Tak at Kowloon, as there did not appear to be any suitable site

on the island. This will be used both by Imperial and civil

air-craft.

It is my considered opinion that the additional

territory ceded by the Treaty of 1860 is absolutely essential

to Hong Kong, both on economic and strategic grounds.

In fact,

I would go so far as to say that, if it were returned to China,

we might as well surrender Hong Kong itself . I further hold

that a certain part of the leased territory is necessary,

mainly in order to conserve the water supply of the Colony.

As regards the remainder of the leased territory, I think

that there can be little doubt that for strategic reasons, it

should be retained in order to maintain a natural barrier with

China.

I would stress the point that during the past few years

considerable money has been invested in land and property in

Kowloon and the New Territories by Chinese, who doubtless took

this course because, so long as it is under British control,

greater safety and stability are secured than obtain in China

proper. I consider that, if we let it go back to China, we

should be deemed by these prople to have failed in our trust

in regard to them.

I attach a few aerial photographs which show in some

measure the development at Kowloon.

На

Govern

10° Nov. 1930