CO129-559-2 Defences (Firing Areas) Ordinance 1936 5-2-1936 - 8-7-1936 — Page 15

(on 53432/36 14.K)

Any further communication should be addressed to:-

The Secretary of the Admiralty,

London, S.W.1.

quoting

M.1138/36.

(2)

Sir,

NATIONAL

NATION

DISABLED

JEME NOW

Admiralty, S.W.1.

415

28th April 193 6

RECEIVED 29 APR 1936

0.0.

I am commanded by My Lords omissioners of the Admiralty to offer, for the consideration of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the following observations on Hong Kong Ordinance No. 1, 1936, entitled The Defences (Firing Areas) Ordinance 1936, a copy of which was enclosed with your letter No. 53732/36 of the 26th March.

2. The proposed firing areas "C" and "D" would appear to extend into Chinese territorial waters. It would, in the view of Their Lordships, be contrary to international usage to make use of the waters of a Foreign Power for purposes of gunnery practice without the consent of that Power. The Convention for the lease of the New Territories at Hong Kong does not, apparently, provide for any facilities of this kind, and My Lords are unaware whether the assent of the Chinese Government to the present proposals has already been obtained. 3. On examination, the descriptions of the firing areas in the first schedule to the Ordinance prove to be unsatisfactory in certain respects. They do not plot properly on either Admiralty charts or War Office maps; many of the terminal points plot in the water when they are

clearly intended to mark positions on the coast line, and there is at least one obvious error in printing (the

longitudinal position of Cape Collinson in Area "B" should read 114 15′ 18′′). My Lords consider it desirable that all

areas should be defined in relation to the largest scale

Admiralty Charts.

0

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S. W. 1.

Ą

BP/.