1
the nices.
objections I hold to the Enlistment of Chinese for Local Defence and whilst proposing in my aissues to duration 1, nations of India as the best material of which an
Auxiliary Local Forer of ron Europeaus could be composed, I hold it would be better stil, if Hong Kong's contribution should take the form of money tobe devoted to defraying the Expracro of sary nation Troops from India when assistance was actually required.
It is no new thing for Indian Native Troops the employed in China. During and after our late wars such was the case, and for several
years they composed portant portion of the Hong Kong garrison. The Imperial government with admirable prescisner have inaugurated the policy of Employing Indian Troops in Europe, or of Extending bother west the system which had been found so success. ful in the East; and why it should be thought impossible for sauction to be given for two rative Requuents to be sent to stong Kong when required, I cannot understand.
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Auth
The proximity of India, telegraphic
Communication which would enable
Troops to reach Hong Kong 15 days after war was declared, the many
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precedents that can be quoted, the obvious Expediency, the facility of operation and the saving of botte trouble and money, are all arqumento in favour of this solution Athe question, whilst it would prevent the introduction of an untried, and probably deficirat
scheme.
L
.
A permanent Auxiliary Fores would cause a constant steady drain on the Colonial Funds. This if saved should be formed int a Defence Fund. This Annual contribution, if looked upon as an insuraner, should not be a burden to a thriving and important Colony like Hong Kong, with a free port and an increasing trade:: Should war be declared before suck a Fund had been formed, the Expenditure would have tobe mat in any cases of sour
If however,
soit are determined on there are 3 conditions which are Essential
Ao their success, without which they will be of little nor.
A. Native Auxiliaries can only be supplementary Bluropean Troops, and no matter how
many aries there may be, the present
Auxili.
European farrison cannot with