116
C
XI.-MILITARY FORCES AND EXPENDITURE.
(a.) REGULAR FORCES.
The following return shows the number and composition of the Forces employed in the Colony during 1905 :-
EUROPEANS.
INDIANS. CHINESE.
CORPS.
Officers.
TOTALS.
General Staff,
Garrison Staff,..
+
:
2
?
Royal Garrison Artillery,
16
615
631
Hongkong-Singapore Bn. R. G. A.,
9
9
379
404
Royal Engineers,.
11
194
205
Chinese S. M. M. Co., R. E.,.
69
69
119th Infantry,
11
646
664
129th (D.C.O.) Baluchis,
11
535
554
Army Service Corps,
27
31
Royal Army Medical Corps,.
43
52
93rd Burma Infantry,
A. O. Department and Corps,
A. P. Department and Corps, 110th Mahratta L. I.,........
2
31
38
8
11
5
282
291
276
285
114th Mahrattas,..
1
2
102
105
2nd Royal West Kent Regiment,
11
441
452
Totals,
98
1,370
41
2,220 69
3,798
(b.) Colonial CONTRIBUTION,
The Colony contributed $1,362,650.27 (being the statutory contribution of 20 per cent. of the Estimated revenue including arrears on account of 1904) towards the cost of the maintenance of the Regular Forces in the Colony and Barrack Service.
(e.) VOLUNTEER CORPS.
The total establishment of the Corps is 431 of all ranks. The strength on the 31st December, 1905, was 276, made up as follows:--Staff, 7; two Garrison Artillery Companies, 205; one Engineer Company, 35; Troop 29.
The members of the Corps are now all armed with the new M.L.E. Short rifle and the latest pattern equipment.
The period for the annual Camp of Instruction was extended from 10 days to 16, it was held in October, 1905, and was very well attended.
The Hongkong Volunteer Reserve Association numbered two hundred and thirteen members at the close of the year, an increase of 113 members, as compared with 1904.
Members of this Association, who must be over 35 years of age, are required to make themselves proficient in rifle shooting, and undertake to enrol themselves under the Volunteer Ordinance in the event of hostilities.
The expenditure on the Volunteers, which is entirely borne by the Colony, was $58,311.12.