It appears by a communication which I have received from the Inspector General of Fortifications, by the last Mail, dated 19th May, that the approval of this Estimate is postponed until His Lordship the Colonial Secretary, receives His Excellency The Governor on this subject, it is therefore most desirable that no time should be lost in deciding upon it. As the buildings are liable to receive much greater injury, in consequence of the delay that has already taken place in repairing them and if that Post ... should again be visited by a Typhoon before they are repaired, which is very probable, they would not be safe for the Troops that now reside in them, and it is quite impossible to say to what further extent they would suffer in their present dilapidated, and exposed situation.
Having accompanied the Major General to Stanley when he went thither with the Governor in March last, I understand that His Excellency was of opinion that the Field Officers' Quarters and Staff Officers' Quarters should be kept up, the former for Officers and the latter for men, as suggested in my letter to the Inspector General of Fortifications dated 25th November last.
I have, &c.,
(Signed) George Phillpotts,
Lieut. Cols Comms & R1 Eng.
True Copy
(signed) W. Haveley
M. General,
Commanding in China.
True Copy.
Colonial Secretary.