CO129-551-9 Acquisition of land for Air Ministry at Kai Tak 17-2-1936 - 9-1-1937 — Page 29

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the Air Ministry representative the question

of the amount of the contribution which can

reasonably be expected towards the Kai Tak

expenditure from Home funds. I submit for

approval a draft semi-official letter to

Mr. Bridges.

Recire pop quality to me

after action)

に

8.1.57

The discussion with Mr Bridges was not entire-

ly satisfactory, but this was, I fancy, due to

the fact that he was not really familiar with

the facts, and had possibly not been very

accurately posted by Mr Grey or whoever had

intially dealt with the papers.

I tried to make it quite clear that we

regarded the Hong Kong Govt. as entitled, beyond

a peradventure, to a substantial immediate

payment on account of the expense to which they

had been put at Kai Tak Aerodrome at the

instigation of the local Air Force officers.

I pointed out that the Air Ministry themselves

had agreed to regard a half share of the total

cost as an equitable contribution from H. M. G.;

but I reluctantly agreed to iscuss this

proportion further if the Treasury insisted.

But I was not able to agree, without reference

to higher authority, to any further postponement

of a settlement of this claim while discussion

of the general question was proceeding. The

case of Kai Tak stands by itself, and nas