CO129-579-5 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese aircraft- Hong Kong air space and other activities 31-1-1939 - 5-8-1939 — Page 126

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5.

With regard to civil aircraft, I have the honour

to invite attention to the letter which I addressed to the

Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 7th March last

giving the route which would in future be followed by

aircraft belonging to the Imperial Airways Company, and in

particular to the last paragraph of that letter. The

Imperial Airways Company will continue to operate their

services over Hainan Peninsula as at present and any

deviations from their schedule will be notified by telegraph

to the Japanese Naval Attaché at Shanghai. It will not

generally be possible to give as much as ten days' notice,

since deviations are usually due to unforeseen circumstances.

6.

I have the honour to add that His Majesty's

Government will take such measures as they deem necessary

to prevent the infringement of the territorial waters or

the territorial air of Hong Kong by either party to the

present conflict.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to

Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.

(Sgd.) R. L. CRAIGIE.