CO129-571-15 Sino-Japanese War- manufacture and import of aircraft to China 18-1-1938 - 5-1-1939 — Page 47

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126. Air Ministry

Ref 119.

suitable

best location, but Burma

Considers Hong Kong

حمه مفر

is more

Cz

strategic grounds.

the

The Air Ministry have always viewed

this question from the strategic aspect, rather

as if it were a question of establishing a

Government aircraft factory in British territory

in the Far East. From that point of view the

line they take is no doubt correct, but it seems

to me to ignore several considerations.

first is that the promoters of the scheme may be

interested in Hong Kong by reason of the fact

The

that they have other businesses established

may

have

there and they have no desire to set up a

factory in Burma.

More important than that is, I think, the

question of the economic advantages of the

establishment of an aircraft factory in Hong

Kong.

thought that the Colony was duly more

From this point of view I should have

undoubadly

Though at

advantageous as a site than Burma.

the moment the strategic point of view may be

more important, it can scarcely override the

economic advantages of a site in Hong Kong for

any considerable time. The Board of Trade will

no doubt comment from this point of view, but I & would suggest that-

mustuseslutsdu the Air Ministry have taken a

somewhat narrow view of the question.

? In the first place wait for Board of

Trade reply to 120.

7. Royes

16. N. 38.