CO129-580-4 Proposed aircraft factories in Hong Kong 21-12-1938 - 2-1-1940 — Page 60

S

YOKOHAM

18

160

DODWELL AND COMPANY LIMITED./60

Branches:

HONG KONG

CANTON · FOOCHOW

IGHAI & HANKOW CHINA

KOBE TOKIO & NAGOYA JAPAN

COLOMBO CEYLON

NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO

LOS ANGELES

& SEATTLE · U ·S A VANCOUVER · B.C

BARRY & DODWELL LTD

CHUNGKING CHINA

CONFIDENTIAL.

Head Office

24 ST MARY AXE LONDON EC3

ہے

·

Telegrams: RECEIVED

"CELTICISM STOCK LONDON.

Telephone Nos: 27 FEB1939

AVENUE 5861 (4 LINES)

H.R.Cowell, Esq., C.M.G.,

The Colonial Office,

Dear Sir,

C. U. REGI

LONDON,

Downing Street,

S.W.

E.C. 3.

Codes Used:

SCOTT'S CODE 10TH EDITION (BENTLEY'S SECTION)

A. B. C. CODE 6TH EDITION BENTLEY'S COMPLETE PHRASE CODE BENTLEY'S SECOND PHRASE CODE

ACME CODE

UNIVERSAL TRADE CODE

BIRCHWOOD CODE

BOE CODE

LOMBARD CODE (CODE SERVICES) CALPAC CODE PRIVATE CODES

23rd February, 1939.

Annd by. 20

In confirmation of my telephone call last week, the 14th, may I put briefly on record my understanding of the situation regarding the proposal to erect an Aeroplane Factory at Hongkong.

The project was originally put forward some time in 1937, when Mr. W.D. Pawley and our Senior, Mr. Stanley H. Dodwell, had some unofficial conversations with certain members of the Government and Air Force officials on this side, but it was not till early in 1938 that H.E.The Governor of Hongkong addressed his first despatches to The Colonial Office on the subject.

It appears to have been assumed that the main, or sole, object of establishing a factory in Hongkong territory was in order to supply the Chinese Government with military aircraft. This however was by no means the idea of those who were prepared to sponsor and finance the scheme. The demand for aircraft, not only in this country but in the Dominions also, was (and still is, I understand) in excess of available sources of supply. The sponsors satisfied themselves that they would be in a position to:-

(a) Raise the requisite capital.

(b) Acquire a suitable site with the permission of

the Hongkong Government.

(c) Obtain the machinery, tools and jigs necessary

for the assembly and construction of certain well-known types of American aircraft, if not

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