CO129-583-6 Air Ministry- land requirements and possible terms of lease 28-12-1939 - 2-5-1940 — Page 16

f.

16 END

Tel. No. HOLBORN 3434,

EXT...

S.33302/F.5.d.

AIR MINISTRY,

ADASTRAL HOUSE,

KINGSWAY, W.C.2.

28 December, 1939

SECRET

LAND

HONG KONG

Dear Gent

11/-18

220n/37

10.

Gmod (2)

Sir G. Northcotes (3)

бору

Action on the question referred to in your official letter 53514/38 of the 17th July, 1939, vas interrupted by the leave season and then this war thrust the matter into the background. It will, however, need to be settled sooner or later and I have therefore be en reading the correspondence with a view to drafting a reply to your letter. I think I have got a fairly clear picture except on two points and I should be glad if you could enlighten me on these.

The

Caines intimated in the third para. of his letter of the 13th January 1938 that on relinquishment it might be possible to dispose of an aerodrome or air station advantageously to a third party and the suggested terms provided only for disposal to the Colonial Government. Governor's despatch or the 31st March 1939 as I read it, seems hardly to meet this point, but rather to be based on the assumption that the land wi il revert to the Colonial A suggestion is made that any buildings they do not retain may be sold in the open market, but this does not apparently cover what Caines had in mind, i.e. disposal of the complete serodrome or air station as such.

Government.

he other point is reinstatement of the site. Can we assume that our view that no liability for rein- stetement should attach to us is accepted ?

Yours sincerely,

Kobal L

G.E.J.Gent, Esq., D.S.O.,0.B.E.,M.C.,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.

cher J-17

2

of

147.