24
407
policy to place the Cantonment in such a position as to interfere as little as possible with the interests of the former, and be as far removed as possible from the influence of the latter. Under these circumstances I cannot agree to the plan proposed by the Commanding Royal Engineer, I admit that the site chosen is in many respects suited to the purpose, and no objection would exist to its occupation if any other site could be availed of for Civil purposes; but other site does exist, while for Military purposes other, and in my opinion better, sites for Cantonment are available on the promontory of Kowloon or, taking it for granted that that one site now proposed is the only one, and if that deprives the Mercantile interests of the advantages it naturally looked for in the occupation of the Promontory, is it not desirable to consider the whole question as to the disposal of Troops, and avail, say of the open land referred to at West Point, or to that more open at Pokefulum originally chosen by General Straubenzee for a Sanatorium?
I believe that either site would be found eminently healthy and by such an occupation the present exorbitant demands for space in Kowloon would be materially reduced, the Troops in no way inconvenienced, the trade not driven from the plain, and I consider that taking into consideration the circumstances connected with Kowloon an area of 50 acres is ample for all Military