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The Camp was fairly well attended and much practical work was performed, including gun drill with 10" B.L., 6" B.L. and 3-Pr. Q.F. Guns at Stonecutters', West and East, also Company, carbine and rifle drills. Numerous lectures weer given by the Staff, and the C.R.A. kindly gave a very instructive lecture no Artillery in Coast Defence.
The Engineer Company, in addition to musketry and infantry drills, did daily drills with the engines and search lights under the supervision of the Royal Engi- neer Instructors. Major BAKER BROWN, R. E., kindly gave an instructive lecture on Electric Light in Coast Defence; which was well attended and much appreciated by the Artillery units as well as the Engineer Company.
The same Officer also carried out an examination of the Engineer Company in their technical work.
29. The C.R.A. inspected the Artillery Units at Stonecutters', West, on October 18th. The guns of the Fort were completely manned and there were spare detach- ments at the 6" B.L. Guns. Each officer and detachment was seen separately by the C.R.A. and given orders by him personally so that the inspection was very thoroughly carried out. The C.R.A. expressed himself very pleased with the drill of all ranks and stated that he considered that after such a short period of drill the progress made had been exceptionally good and that the officers especially seemed to have been well-trained and knew their work very well.
30. Colonel L. F. BROWN, C.R.E., Acting General Officer Commanding, in- spected the Corps and Camp on Sunday, 19th October, and there were present 155 of all ranks.
MISCELLANEOUS.
31. The Annual Inspection of the Corps by His Excellency the General Officer Commanding was held on the 28th March, and it will be seen from the Parade State (Enclosure No. 7) that considering the strength of the Corps there was a good number on parade.
The absentees from the Inspection are as under:-
51 absent with leave (mostly out of the Colony).
5 on Medical Certificate.
3 absent from the Colony without leave.
14 absent without leave (in the Colony).
32. His Excellency the Governor's Shield was shot for on the 5th April, 1902, by teams of 8 from each unit, and wou by the late "B" Machine Gun Company, now Left half No. 1 Company Hongkong Volunteer Artillery.
33. The shield presented by His Excellency Sir W. J. GASCOIGNE for Maxim Gun Practice was not competed for owing to the change in organisation. The con- ditions have now been altered and approved by His Excellency and the competition will in future be for Gun drill, the gun or guns to be selected by the Commandant. This year it is proposed to carry ont the competition with 15-Pr. B.L. Guns, that being the only gun at which the men can drill frequently without proceeding to the Forts.
34. The Corps took part in the King's Birthday Parade at the Happy Valley on November 10th.
35. New Regulations for the Corps were published in the Government Gazetie of 14th November, showing the new constitution, and some alterations in the uni- form of the Corps.
36. The change in the constitution of the Corps was brought about owing to an urgent letter from the Officer Commanding Royal Artillery, who pointed out the absolute necessity of more Garrison Artillery in the command, and when it was found that no more Garrison Artillery could be furnished he strongly urged that the Volunteer Corps should be altered accordingly. The matter was put before the members of the Corps, when the majority at once came forward and agreed to the change, and I wish to take this opportunity of saying that I consider great credit is due to all rank for thus taking the matter up, as it was done against the personal wishes of a large number and entirely because it had been put forward that the Corps would be of greater service in the defence of the Colony.
The change was sanctioned on July 25th and new regulations were published on November 12th.