CO129-551-9 Acquisition of land for Air Ministry at Kai Tak 17-2-1936 - 9-1-1937 — Page 21

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What is "a divergence of o, inion as to the facts

of the case"? The facts are clear, and the

ir Ministry themselves think it equitable that

they should contribute half the cost 19.

so that this shabby refusal to reimburse

Hong kong must make an unfavourable impression

in the Colony.

The only advantage of a conference

- if

it is an advantage - will be to let the Treasury

know in unofficial language our opinion of the

mean and pet ifog ing methods adopted by H.L.G.

to extract from the Colonies suns trifling

in themselves but of importance to local

revenues. se get examples of this every day -

the latest is an attempt to defraud den of a

few thousand pounds in defiance of public

promises.

I agree that a con; rehensive remo.

should be prepared as a basis for our represent-

ative at the conference. It will have to

cover everything, as all sorts of side issues

}

may be brought into the scope for further

argument". but I should propose to stymie the

op, osition by stating flatly that, until a settle-

rent of Hong hong's claim is reached, the local

government will be authorised to refuse to co-

operate in any further work of this nature

except on terms of payment in advance.

H. R. Lowell

In Bridges

Castle

the word

21.11.36

to her heilding kis

had they ban

consulted before the work верю

Laven

hat in

have in the Cir kaimitey's letter