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the Protection of Hong Kong is Confined to a Secret and Confidential "letter dated 15th March 1880,
addressed to the Governor of Hong Kong in reply to a communication of a similar nature received from the Governor two days previously,
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a copy of which he had not the slightest doubt would be furnished to the General Officer Commanding on application to the Governor
On considering the above
I am instructed to state that General Donovan is
Major
I am unable to imagine by what authority or for what reason the Governor called upon the Admiral to report secretly and confidentially to him on the defences of Hong Kong, nor can the Major General conceive why the Governor called on the Admiral without his knowledge to accompany him to Kowloon to inspect that Peninsula in a Military point of view or why the Admiral accompanied him apparently without protest for that purpose.
– I have also received instructions to add that the Major General has not thought fit to apply for a copy of this confidential letter as he is perfectly satisfied that if in the opinion of Vice-Admiral Coote there was anything defective in the defences of Hong Kong, he would have brought it to his notice.