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part in the expedition to Kowloon City. Shamchun, the other place seized, is an important town on the river of the same name just beyond the boundary originally agreed upon. Unfortunately it has not been retained, having been restored the Chinese authorities in November, 1899. The New Territory under British jurisdiction is being developed by the construction of roads; police stations have been established, and a system of administration by means of village communities organised. The headquarters of the administration are at Taipohu. The principal islands and their estimated population are as follows:-Tsing I, 400; Ma Wan, 400; Lantao, 6,860; Ping Chau, 600; Cheung Chau, 5,000; Lamma, 460.
Of the islands and islets in the waters of the Colony (exclusive of the recent acquisitions) the most important is Stonecutter's Island, formerly known as Wong Chune-chow, opposite to and about three-quarters of a mile from the north-western extremity of the Kowloon peninsula. The island is an irregular ridge about a mile in length, and a little over a quarter of a mile broad. The Gunpowder Depôt is on the eastern end, near the wharf; the principal eminences are occupied by batteries more or less formidable, and no one is allowed to land without a permit. The Quarantine Sta- tion is also, located here. After the great typhoon of September, 1874, two or three thousand bodies of the victims found afloat were interred on Stonecutter's Island. Kellet's Island is a small rock near East Point, on which a fort formerly stood, but which has been replaced by a small magazine. Green Island, at the western entrance of the harbour, has been planted with trees and now justifies its name all the year round. A lighthouse has been placed on its south-western extremity. One Tree Island is a tiny rock near the entrance to Aberdeen. A Dynamite Depôt has been erected on it. Aplichau, a considerable island opposite Aberleen, of which harbour it forms part, has a populous fishing village on its northern shore facing Aberdeen. Lantao and Lamma Islands were brought under British jurisdiction by the Kowloon Convention of 1898. Both islands are sparsely populated by agriculturists and fishermen.
POPULATION, GARRISON, AND DEFENCES
The total population of the Colony, according to the census taken in January, 1897, numbered 246,880, compared with 221,441 in May, 1891, and 160,402 in 1881. The resident civil population was composed as follows:-Europeans and Americans other than Portuguese 3,269, Portuguese 2,263, Indians 1,348, Eurasians 272, other races 882, Chinese 200,005. The mercantile marine numbered 1,971, of whom 356 were Europeans and 1,523 Chinese. The Chinese floating population numbered 31,752. The army, including an Indian regiment, numbered 2,850, and the Navy 2,268. Of the resident population and mercantile marine 2,374 were natives of the British Isles, 223 Americans, 118 French, 366 German, 163 Jewish, and 105 Spanish, the balance being spread over various other nationalities. The population of Victoria is about 165,000. The population of the New Territory is estimated in round figures at 100,000.
The Garrison, according to the Estimates for 1899-1900, consists of three companies, of Garrison Artillery, 657 of all ranks; Engineers, 11 officers and 179 men; Infantry, Six-eighths of a battalion, 779 of all ranks; Army Service Corps; 7 Colonial Corps Eleven companies of Infantry, four of Local Artillery, one of Local Engineers, 1,921 of all ranks; Departmental Corps, Nine officers and 33 men of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 5 of the Army Ordnance Department, 18 of the Army Ordnance Corps, and 6 of the Army Pay Corps. Total of all ranks, 3,625. There is also a Volunteer Corps consisting of a battery of Light Field Artillery, three Machine Gun Companies, an Engineer Company, an Infantry Company, and a Band.
The approaches to the harbour are strongly fortified, the batteries consisting of well constructed earthworks. The western entrance is protected by three batteries on Stonecutters' Island and two forts on Belcher and Fly Points, from which a tremendous converging fire could be maintained, completely commanding the Sulphur Channel. Another small battery, on the hill above and west of Richmond Terrace, has a wide range of fire. The Ly-ee-mun Pass is defended by two forts, and if vessels survived that fire they would then have to face the batteries at North Point and Hungham which completely command the eastern entrance. Another battery on the bluff at Tsim-tsa Tsui, Kowloon, commands the whole of the centre of the harbour. The batteries are armed with the latest breech-loading ordnance.
In addition to the fortifications the Colony possesses a small squadron for harbour defence. This consists of the turret ironclad Wivern, 2,750 tons, carrying 4 guns, the gunboats Esk (at present detached for service on the Yangtsze) and Tweed, each carrying 3 guns, and six torpedo boats. The crews of these vessels are borne in the receiving ship Tamar, which is also the headquarters of the Commodore and his staff. The Naval Yard is an extensive range of workshops and offices cast of the