105
Government.
62953/29
In accordance with the undertaking contained in
Air Ministry letter of the 12th June, 1929, S. 23467/S.6.,
the Council would of course undertake to provide equivalent hangar
and slipway accommodation to that which the Hong Kong Government
will be asked to relinquish, or, alternatively, to purchase at an
agreed valuation the part of the hangar and the slipway relinquished.
Even under the most favourable conditions a considerable time would
however elapse before replace accommodation suitable for the purpose
which the Far Eastern Aviation Company have in mind could be made
available.
There are moreover other considerati ons which render the
Council averse to the proposal.
When they agreed to regard Kai Tak as a joint service
and civil aerodrome they contemplated that civil requirements
would take the form of facilities for the operation of air transport
services and believe that this was also the object which the Government
of Hong Kong had in mind.
The establishment of a civil flying school would be a very
different matter, as, owing to the small size of the aerodrome,
its surroundings and the limitations imposed by climatic conditions,
it would be impossible for such a school to operate without grave
detriment to service requirements when Fleet Air Arm Flights are
disembarked for exercise.
The Council also observe that the whole success of the
company's proposal is stated to be dependent upon the grant of
permission to train aliens, especially Chinese, and assume that the
company would not confine its activities to the training of
civil pilots but would endeavour to undertake training on military
types of aircraft if by so doing they could facilitate the sale
of military aircraft to the Chinese.
As such activities of the company at Kai Tak could
scarcely fail to be connected with the establishment there of a
Royal Air Force Base, they suggest for Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister's
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.