CO129-564-10 Aeroplane assembly depot- proposed establishment 7-9-1937 - 14-1-1938 — Page 66

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Strictly Confidential.

MEMORANDUM of Interview with Wing-Commander Garnett F. Malley, Aviation Adviser to the Chinese Government, NANKING.

Wing-Commander Malley called to see me on the 16th

September, 1937, having the previous day flown from Nanking

in the Generalissimo's aeroplane.

2.

Malley had come to Hongkong under instructions from

Madame Chiang-kai-Shek, who is Head of the Aviation Commission.

He had already seen the Officer Administering the Government

of Hongkong regarding the desire of the Nanking Government to

establish an aeroplane assembly plant on the border of the

Colony.

3. He informed me that the A.0.G.

the Colonial Office on this matter.

was telegraphing to

He urged that I should

see the 0. A. G. and point out to him the dire need of China

for this assistance, and request his favourable representation

of the matter to the Home Authorities.

4. I pointed out the difficulty of importing materials

for such a plant.

Malley's reply was an impassioned statement

that China was in desperate need, and while expecting the

friendly help of the United Kingdom was now getting a little

dubious that it would be forthcoming. They intensely wished

the help of Great Britain rather than that of other countries,

but were now seriously thinking of throwing themselves open

to anyone

5.

French, Russian, etc.

They had appointed Jardine, Matheson & Co. receiving

and forwarding agents for the Aeronautical Commission (See

Mr. Gage's letter to Mr.Orde, 30th August, 1937) but Jardines

had let them down (Mr. J.F. Owen's letter to Wing-Commander

Malley, and Jardines' letter to the Aeronautical Commission

dated 9th September, 1937).

6. One of Malley's main objectives in coming to Hongkong

was to find other agents, or to expand Kwong Hing's office

so/