153
No. 14 B.
Correspondence respecting the Armament of the Forts at Hongkong, (in continuation of No. 14.)
Presented to the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Governor.
Secretary of State to Governor Sir G. F. Bowen, G.C.M.G.
DOWNING STREET,
20th March, 1885.
SIR,
With reference to my despatch, No. 31, of the 14th ultimo, I have the honour to forward, for your information, copy of a letter from the War Office on the subject. of the new Defence Works at Hongkong.
Governor
Sir G. F. BowEN, G.C.M.G.,
&.c..
&e..
Fe.
I have, &c..
(Signed). DERBY.
Enclosure.
War Office to Colonial Office.
WAR OFFICE, 13th March, 1885.
SIR,
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th ultimo, forwarding a further despatch from the Governor of Hongkong, concerning the new Defence Works of the Colony; and in reply to acquaint you, for the information of the Earl of DERBY, that when the subject of the Defence of Hongkong was first considered, the guns with which it was proposed to arm the batteries were 10-inch. M.L.R. guns, which at 3,000 yards can only penetrate 9 inches of iron.
As the project developed, it was thought desirable to employ some more modern guns, and the 9.2-inch B. L. Gun was proposed; -a gun which was thought to be sufficiently powerful to beat off any ironclads likely to be met with in those seas.