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Sandy, Taihowan, and Kellet Bays. "These would be quickly reinforced by the infantry companies (240) or the Volunteers (164) from the Peak Section, and the whole Victoria Reserve (376 infantry), as well as, if necessary, by the Kowloon Reserve (251 infantry), which would move either by the main road by Belchers to Sandy Bay, or by Victoria Gap to Pokfulum, or both, as might be required."
The Defence Scheme also states that a company from the Reserve can reach Sandy Bay within an hour of being summoned by telephone from Belchers, "an addition clearly needed when so important a point has to be held by so small a garrison," and it lays down that a Cossack picket is sufficient on the shores of Sandy Bay to give warning of the approach of boats at night, and that at night a section is to bivouac in the cable house at Tailiowan Bay to prevent a boat stealing up to cut the seven cables which connect Hong Kong with the rest of the world, and are all landed at this point of the island.
5. The only landing places contemplated in the Defence Scheme on that part of the coast affected by the western section of the proposed new road arc Kellet Bay, Taihowan Bay, and Sandy Bay, and as far as can be judged from the map a landing is impossible on the rocky shore between these places. The proposed new road would offer no advantage to a landing party at any of them unless it was proposed to advance round the foot of Mount Davis instead of through Victoria Gap. From Sandy Bay the road through Victoria Gap is somewhat shorter than the proposed road. On the other hand it is not so level, and can be barred by troops posted on the hills which flank it on both sides. It would also undoubtedly be an advantage to an enemy to be able to attack by alternative or by two routes. But the new road round Mount Davis, cut out of a steep hill side and with slopes on either side impassable for formed troops, would be a bad line of advance, and a small body of troops posted on Mount Davis should be able to deny it to an enemy, and would also be available to oppose an advance along the existing road through Victoria Gap. Both the new road and the existing road are within 700 yards of the top of Mount Davis. Again, unless an enemy were advancing by both roads, it would be possible for the reinforcing defence force provided for in the Defence Scheme to attack him in flank or rear by the road he was not using.
6. On the whole, it appears to the Committee that the military disadvantages of the road would be obviated if instead of being taken immediately along the top of the cliff its trace were to follow generally the 150-foot contour, and that by building up the revetments on its outer side to form a 3-foot parapet, by making the platforms of the bridges over nullahs easily removable, and by forming projections at points suitable to serve as gun positions the road might be made a distinct military advantage. The Committee accordingly recommend that its construction should be allowed to proceed under these conditions which will neither interfere with its main object of providing a level drive for the residents of Hong Kong nor add appreciably to its cost.
7. There is no military telegraph or telephone to either Sandy Bay or Tailowan Bay, and it is not known how far the civil systems assist communication from these points to the head-quarters in Victoria. The Committee take this opportunity of recommending that arrangements should be made for enabling the parties watching these bays to communicate by telegraph or telephone to the position of the Reserve forces that might be required to assist in their defence.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
January 9, 1900.
Approved
ley
LLW. Hong Kong 5
202.00.
310
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