CO129-564-1 Sino-Japanese War- landing of foreign military aircraft in Hong Kong 8-10-1937 - 26-12-1937 — Page 22

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as a prohibited area, with the reservation of

area,

such channels as were necessary for the civil

air lines. The Air Ministry representative

was prepared to agree with this, subject to

consultation with higher authority in the Air

Ministry, and it was agreed that he should

let me know whether in principle the Air

Ministry considered it feasible and desirable

to contemplate either a "restricted area" or

a "prohibited area", and that on receiving

this information the Colonial Office should

prepare a draft telegram to the Governor

asking him to draft a Proclamation on the

necessary lines which could be instantly

promulgated in case of need.

I understood that the need would be

regarded as likely to arise on the occasion of

the first unauthorised flight by foreign

military aircraft. Should such first flight

be the occasion also of a hostile act by the

aircraft, the existing instructions to the

Governor would warrant retaliatory fire being

opened for the purpose of compelling the

machine to land.

77-121