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This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. November 18, 1898.
SECRET.
No. 156 M.
HONG KONG.
C.O. No. 20447.
Report on Volunteers, April 1898.
Memorandum by the Colonial Defence Committee.
THE Colonial Office have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee the Reports of the General Officer Commanding and of the Commandant on the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps for the year ending the 16th April, 1898, which are printed as an Appendix to this Memorandum.
2. The strength of the Hong Kong Volunteers has been steadily increasing for some years past. They now number 176 of all ranks, against 159 in 1897 and 125 in 1896. The strength is greater than it has been since the reorganization in 1893. The General Officer Commanding and the Commandant appear to think that some further increase is possible. Every effort should be made to bring the numbers up at least to those recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum, No. 82 M, dated the 10th November, 1896, viz., 190 of all ranks, exclusive of staff.
3. The old establishments of 4 officers and 76 N.C.Os. and men for the field battery, and of 9 officers and 144 N.C.Os. and men for three machine-gun companies, are still adhered to in the present Report. Those recommended by the Colonial Defence Committee in their Memorandum, above referred to, were 5 officers and 107 N.C.Os. and men for the field battery, equipped with 6-7-pr. R.M.L. guns, and 6 officers and 72 N.C.Os. and men for six machine-gun sections, each with two guns. Further attention was called to these numbers in a despatch to the Governor, dated the 12th April, 1897; and in his reply, dated the 2nd July, 1897, they were apparently accepted. The old numbers, however, still appear as the authorized establishments.
4. The definite adoption of the new establishments is apparently awaiting the coming into force of the proposed new Regulations. These were promised in the Commandant's Report of last year, but pressure of work has made it necessary to postpone their preparation. These Regulations are also to deal, amongst other matters, with the qualifications for efficiency, with the formation and constitution of a Volunteer Reserve, and with the question of simplifying and cheapening the uniform of the different grades. It is obvious that their early submission is a matter of con- siderable importance.
5. In making their recommendations with regard to establishments in their Memorandum, No. 82 M, the Colonial Defence Committee assumed the employment of coolie draught both for field and machine-guns. They considered that the establish- ment of coolics required for draught and other purposes should be laid down locally, and that arrangements should be made for securing the services in time of war of Chinamen with some previous training in the work. The Governor in his despatch dated the 2nd July, 1897, stated, with regard to this subject, that "a large number of coolies are constantly being practised in carrying the guns, and in going in for a state of preparation for war, a permanent corps would be formed from those who had had previous training in the work." In the latest revision of the Hong Kong Defence
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