§ 50. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the departure of 11 Chinese aircraft from Hong Kong on 9th November; and what negotiations with the Chinese Nationalist Government preceded the departure of the aircraft.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Mayhew)The aircraft in question were cleared in the normal way for destinations in Chinese Nationalist territory; and in due course received permission to pass out of Hong Kong air traffic control. They then flew to Communist-held territory. No negotiations preceded the departure of the aircraft.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWas it not known that at Kai-Tak Aerodrome, where these aeroplanes were based, many hundreds of employees had Communist sympathies, and will the Under-Secretary say why these aircraft were allowed to leave before it was decided whether or not this Government intended to recognise the Pekin Government? Further, what is happening about the additional 26 aircraft which are still at Hong Kong and which are the property of the Chinese Nationalist Government?
§ Mr. MayhewI cannot say about the powers if we had known the eventual destination of these aircraft but, of course, like many aircraft, they arrived at a different destination from that given.
§ Mr. Walter FletcherWill the hon. Gentleman give a reasoned answer to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, because the aircraft which still remain may repeat the manoeuvre. Is he taking the necessary precautions?
§ Mr. MayhewThe registration certificates and pilots' licences of these two companies have been cancelled by the Chinese Nationalist authorities and, in those circumstances, other planes could not do the same thing.