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! the War Office letter of the 24th February. last should be adhered to - 224
Lord de Grey considers that the following tracts of land should be reserved for the erection of batteries, in the event of a permanent system of defence for the protection of the Town and Harbour of Hong Kong being hereafter undertaken -
It appears that the Governor of Hong Kong does not press for the reservation of any existing battery and that the only sites which he wishes to be transferred to the Colonial Government are:
1. Possession Point
2. The W. point of Kowloon
3. The M. E. Point of Stone Cutters Island
4. Belcher Point, West Point
5. White Rocks, M. Point of Stone Cutters Island
6. Lyemoon Pass and opposite Stone
7. North Point & Town Batteries
8. Kellet's Island, S.W. Point
Their object is to command the approaches to the Harbour from Westward, to prevent hostile ships that may pass the Lyemoon Pass from occupying the anchorage, or from attacking the shipping.
Lord de Grey sees no objection to Possession Point being given up to the Colony, as West Point would be a substitute for it as a site for a Battery -
The I.W. Point of the Kowloon Peninsula presents, however, a very favourable site for a Battery for which no substitute could be found; and Lord de Grey therefore considers it indispensable that if the Colonial Government wish to occupy it, they should be desired to arrange their plans accordingly.