CO129-583-6 Air Ministry- land requirements and possible terms of lease 28-12-1939 - 2-5-1940 — Page 9

C.S.0.4207/37.

G/I:PM.

* SECRET.

4/

9

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

9th April, 1940.

:

My dear Gent,

جو

This is in reply to your semi-official letter

(S) дорогу

to

вору

No. 53514/40 of 8th February, 1940, on the subject of

land transfer between the Air Ministry and the Government

of Hong Kong.

2.

advantageverly

The Air Ministry's argument that on

relinquishment it might be possible to dispose of

the aerodrome or air station, as such, advantageously

to a third party appears to disclose that there is a

fundamental misapprehension by the Ministry of the

nature of the tenure right which they would acquire

in respect of these two areas of land; that is to

say, they seem to believe that under the proposed

arrangement they would acquire the freehold of the

It should sites, with a right to disposal by sale.

be made clear to them that freehold is never granted

in this Colony and that, while we are willing to pay

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

2

Colonial Office,

1147

LONDON.