CO129-560-2 Air Ministry- requirements of land at Kai Tak Aerodromes 8-1-1937 - 5-2-1938 — Page 38

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continue. The requirements of the

Royal Air Force have, however, raised

new questions, and it is inevitable, in

the circumstances of Hong Kong, that

suitable sites for aerodromes are, by their

very nature, the most difficult to find, and

in any central district the most valuable.

Nevertheless, I do not doubt that it will

be agreed, not only by yourself but by the

leaders of the unofficial community, that

it is desirable that a Colony, which, like

Hong Kong, is at the same time a most

important fortress, should render all

possible assistance to His Majesty's

Government in the effort to meet the needs

of the new arm of Air defence, and that the

very heavy financial burden borne by His

Majesty's Government in present circumstances

throughout the Empire for this purpose

should be alleviated as far as possible by

any local concessions which the Colonial

Government is able to afford.

3.