Far Eastern Appreciation. Comments by the Deputy Director of Intelligence, Air Ministry

HONG KONG. 128 3. Re query in paragraph 7(b) of Note. Improvisition of landing grounds on China Coast. Landing grounds suitable for extensive operations of aircraft are not easily made. A close scrutiny of all available information of the coast north and south of Hong Kong from Hinan in the south to Swatow in the north supports the view that landing grounds would take some days to construct, even though ample coolie labour can be made available. With the introduction of civil air routes in southern China landing grounds will probably be made at intervals of every 50 miles or so where the country is at all possible, but until these civil routes are in working order it is unlikely that much aerodrome space will be available in the area indicated.