CO129-587-1 Kai Tak- extension of aerodrome 29-12-1939 - 20-11-1940 — Page 5

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Sir A.

Burns.

The Kai Tak airport of Hong Kong was

completed some twelve years ago on a site in the

New Territories bordering upon the north eastern verges

There was no level area on the

of the harbour.

Island proper, and this was the only convenient

available site within reasonable distance of the city

and the harbour. The Air Force were anxious for the

project to be pressed forward and Air Ministry funds

contributed half the cost in return for the free use

of the airport for service, land, and sea planes.

Three years ago the land area of the aerodrome was

extended at a cost in which the Air Ministry again

shared. At the same time the Air Ministry were

themselves engaged in preparing two aerodrome sites

R-A-F. well away in the New Territories for purely service

They however made little headway with that work

in view of the uncertainty as to the Hong Kong defence

scheme, and as a result those plans have not been

completed and such use as the R.A.F. may have for

facilities in Hong Kong for aircraft apart from the

apart

use.

facilities provided in one of H.M. aircraft carriers

which is based on Hong Kong are still provided by

Kai Tak.

But the great development in the airport

and its use has been for civil aircraft, and the aim

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of making Hong Kong a prominent Junction of the air

for international air lines connecting with China has

resulted in a steady advance in the numbers and types of air liners using the port which is now equipped with

every day and night flying facility for the largest

machines.

The number of passengers arriving and

departing rose from 3,700 in 1937 to 10,000 in 1938.

The