CO129-539-13 Proposed transfer of Government Wireless Service to Imperial and International Communications Ltd. 11-4-1932 - 17-6-1933 — Page 46

30

AIR COMMODORE WARRINGTON-MORRIS said that he would like to have

it recorded that 1.5 landing ground at Singapore had, after con-

siderable pressure, been given up by the Air Ministry as a site for

the proposed high power wireless station. As the building of the

station is postponed the position may arise where the Air Ministry

would ask for this decision to be reversed.

CONCLUSION.

It was agreed:

that

(a) that the Colonial Office, in consultation

with the Treasury, should prepare telegrams for despatch to the Governors of Hong Kong and Malaya referring to the para. 44 of the 1928 Conference report, and stating that action in any colony should be consistent with the policy of co-operation laid down therein; while the colonies should be free to develop services which were necessary for their commercial requirements, they should refrain from establishing any service where existing facilities were reasonably adequate and that rate-cutting was obviously incompatible with the policy of co-operation. In applying this policy to the case of Hong Kong it would appear that the establishment of wireless telephone services was reasonable, but that the establishment of a wireless telegraph service with Japan would be an unreasonable competition with the existing cable facilities.

(b)

That sanction to develop such services should not preclude or prejudice negotiations being entered into with Imperial and International Communications Limited at a later date for the transfer of all wireless telephone and telegraph services, including any improvements.

(c) That the telegrams despatched and replies received

from the Governors of Hong Kong and Malaya res- pectively should be circulated to the Committee; if these replies appeared satisfactory, then permission should be given to the Governors to proceed with their proposals. On the other hand if any members of the Committee had any points to raise they should inform the Secretary when, if necessary, a further meeting of the Committee would be held.

2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1.

14th March, 1933.

18.