CO129-586-8 War Taxation 2-2-1940 - 11-5-1940 — Page 37

DRAFT ON

/303//2/40 4.5. CD14/357/49.-

ra

TIGUI from the

ecretary of State for the Colonies to the

Governor of Hong Kong.

(sent 9.45 p.m. 2nd February, 1940. )

37

No.45 COIPIDETIAL.

y telogram Ho.343.

Further consideration has now been

given to the best use to which offer of Hong Kong Covernment

of contribution to war effort should be put. Offer of sire.aft

is much appreciated but proposal rould not easily fit in with

general scheme either for operations or for training and

ir inistry, while grateful for suggestion share the

conclusion that value of contribution at this juncture could

be increased if it were to take different form.

,

If at a later stage it appeared necessary to base

additional aircraft at llong Kong steps would be taken by

defence authorities to meet euch requirement.

Such vessele

I am advised that the most valuable form which the balance

of the gift could take in the first place would be the

provision of a number of harbour defence craft.

are about 72 feet long, carrying 12-pounders and cubmarine

detecting apparatus, and are estimated to cost approximately

£15,000 each. I should be grateful if you would discuss with

Naval Com ander in Chief and General \fficer Commanding

re provision of such craft if Hong Kong Government would repared.

to present them to Royal Navy. Cost of, say, six of craft of larger type plus cost of mine-gwcepers already accopted won be approximately £340,000 sterling, which would still leave

considerable balance on scale of contribution originally

proposed. Admiralty suggest that any such balance might be

devoted in the first place to upkeep of craft. Harbour defence

craft would play en important part in defence of ling Kong,

and