173
SIR,
From Major-General Wilsone Black, C.B.,
To His Excellency Sir H. A. Blake, G.C.M.G., &c., &c.
HEAD QUARTER HOUSE,
2nd December, 1898,
In answer to Your Excellency's letter of the 30th ultimo, No. 94-G, I have the honour to state that the slopes of Mount Davis between Sandy Bay and Ken. nedy Town are so steep and rugged that no formed body of soldiers could move along them at night.
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II. If a broad level road were constructed from Sandy Bay to Kennedy Town, a force landed under cover of darkness anywhere between these points could move easily and rapidly to the latter place.
III. I am, therefore, of opinion that it is inadvisable on Military grounds, to give an enemy an easier method of access to the town of Victoria.
IV. I have seen it stated that a small fort or work might be built to defend the road, and that the fire from Belcher's Battery would sweep it, and would an- swer that the small garrison of Hongkong cannot afford to detach men to defend yet another work, and that during darkness the fire from Belchers would be of little avail.
V. Perhaps I may be allowed to add some further remarks as the subject was often before me as Officer Administering the Government, before Your Excellency's arrival. One reason advanced for the construction of this section is the statement that people subscribed to the Jubilee Fund on the understanding that this section was to be first constructed. I can only say on this head that my strong impression is that no condition of this nature was set forth on the subscription list put before me, and that this impression prevails amongst all those whom I have asked on this point.
VI. I need not dwell on the great expense of this section as compared with the others, on the unlikelihood of any one using this road in summer, fully exposed to the Westering Sun-on the apparent absurdity of a road following an indented coast line when a thoroughly good and shorter road already exists, or on the un- pleasant neighbourhood of the two plague cemeteries, but I would lay considerable stress on the fact that such a road would necessitate the removal of the temporary Plague Hospitals at Kennedy Town, for, I venture to say, that there is no other site in the Colony so isolated or in every way so convenient for the treatment of this terrible disease.
VII. The need of the Colony is to have a road round the Island as soon as possible. This will be effected by beginning simultaneously from Shaukiwan and from Aberdeen, and sanitary reasons favour an immediate beginning, for the scheme includes filling in the Inlet between Aberdeen and Little Hongkong, to which the Medical men ascribe the Malaria that has made this neighbourhood and that of Magazine Gap so unhealthy. These sections finished, and easier gradients secured by a slight deviation of the present Pokfulam road, the Jubilee road will be com- plete.
After that, if found desirable, it will be time enough to undertake the heavy expense of a needless carriage way round Mount Davis.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
W. BLACK,
Major-General.