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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. January 4, 1888.
CONFIDENTIAL.
[Vo 13 R]
Report of Local Committee.
HONG KONG.
18
16
Remarks by Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Defence Committee have carefully considered the Report drawn up by the Local Committee of Hong Kong. They desire to point out that this Report, while containing many valuable observations, does not in any sense constitute a scheme of defence such as was contemplated by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum No. 18, which formed the basis of Colonial Office Circular of the 18th November, 1886.
The object of this Circular was the local preparation of schemes of defence, by which all existing resources could be turned to the fullest account in the event of an emergency. Such schemes should be sufficiently detailed to be put in operation at short notice without confusion or loss of time. The Local Committee, at the outset, state that their functions " appear limited very much to placing the Colonial Office in possession of information already in the hands of the War Office." This seems to show clearly that the instructions contained in the Circular Memorandum above referred to were altogether misunderstood at Hong Kong, since no scheme of defence of any kind for that station is at present in possession of the War Office.
The Colonial Defence Committee suggest, therefore, that a copy of the scheme forwarded from Natal should be sent to the Governor as a guide to the nature of the functions of a Local Defence Committee, and that the Report of the Local Committee should be referred back to the station for reconsideration, in accordance with the above remarks.
The Governor might, at the same time, be informed that, while such a general discussion of the permanent defences of the Colony as occupies a prominent place in the present Report may fitly be entered upon by the Com- mittee, it should be treated entirely apart from a scheme of defence with existing resources. In this respect the Natal scheme also is defective; but to a con- siderably less extent.
The most important function of the Local Committees now and in future is to secure that, at each station liable to attack, there should be a carefully matured plan of operations, under which the whole available resources of all kinds might be utilized for the defence immediately on the outbreak of war.
G. S. CLARKE, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
January 2, 1888.
(Signed)
[1751]
PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY T. HARRISON.—4/1/88.
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