Sir Thomas Cochrane, whose professional opinion made the expression of my own almost needless. In a circuit of the island which I made with that Officer, it was impossible not to be struck by the admirable locality and general advantages
Shek-pai-wan (Chuck py wan ward) a sheltered position, on the south side, lying due south of the middle of Victoria town, and of a gap in the central ridge to which a good bridle road had been constructed. The distance from Victoria through the gap is not above
three miles.
Every natural facility is afforded within the Shek-pai passage for carening and docking vessels, and a roomy as well as sheltered anchorage exists on the outside of the small island, between that and the much larger Lemma island lying to the South West of Hongkong.
But the advantages do not rest here. From the fact of no establishment whatever at present existing at Shek-pai-wan, the rear of the town of Victoria lies exposed at any time to the nocturnal incursions of large bodies of pirates, or others through the above-mentioned gap, a risk which a naval dépôt and small military position would prevent. The healthiness of the spot was abundantly proved by a small body of troops temporarily placed there last year, during the sickly season, and who were withdrawn only because they were required elsewhere. The Spitful Steam vessel had not been three months arrived from her last repairing voyage to Bombay, when