Page 114
Page 114
3
In view of the difficulty which the Colonial Government would experience in existing circumstances in providing the necessary funds for the construction of the road, the G.O.C. has suggested an Imperial contribution; he considers that part of the road which passes to the south of Victoria Peak and connects the saddles on either side of it as the most important part of the work, the total estimate for which is approxi- mately 2,5007.
6. The Colonial Defence Committee, after careful reconsideration of the whole subject, now recommend that both roads should be constructed as recommended by the General Officer Commanding. Steps should be taken to prevent buildings being put up on the ground immediately below them. By building up the revetments on their outer sides to form low parapets, by making the platforms of the bridges over nullahs easily removable, and by forming projections at points suitable to serve as gun positions, the military advantage of the roads would be increased.
The Committee recommend that the roads should be treated entirely as a military requirement, and that the provision of funds for them should be made in connection. with that for the new works of defence, and that the ultimate incidence of cost should follow the same lines.
M. NATHAN, Secretary,
Colonial Defence Committee.
March 14, 1900.
mo.
Sir,
APPENDIX.
Letter from the General Officer Commanding Troops in China.
Head-quarters, Hong Kong, December 16, 1899. Hong Kong 5, dated 27th October, 1899, I have
221
WITH reference to the War Office letter
the honour to explain that the financial proposals in my letter of the 29th April, 1899, were made with the idea of getting the most necessary and important part of this very valuable road actually executed within some reasonable and definite time. If it is to be left to the Colony, I cannot but recognize that all, and more than all, the available Colonial funds are taken up at present, and likely to be taken up for years to come, by the heavy demands for opening up the newly-acquired territory on the mainland. It would therefore appear unfair that I should press his Excellency the Governor on the subject at this moment.
Road from Victoria Gap to High West.
2. I would observe that the great military value of this proposed road for the defence of Hong Kong was very well illustrated in our tactical manoeuvres only last week.
A hostile force had landed at Taihowan Bay on the west side of the island, and marched upon Belchers through Cemetery Gap, between Mount Davis and High West. No. 2 Section was duly in position as per the approved Defence Scheme to meet this attack. But it was out- numbered and out-flanked by the attack, and driven back through the gap. The attack therefore was successful. The Commander of No. 3, the Peak Section, had duly received orders before- hand to co-operate with No. 2 in the defence. Owing to the great difficulties of the ground he was unable to get his men into position in time. Had there been a good horizontal road from the Tram Station to the shoulder or cell of High West (the first portion of the road here imme- diately in question), and thence a circular road running right round High West on a nearly horizontal course, or even a cheap pathway practicable for Infantry in single file, he would have been in ample time to render an invaluable support to No. 2 Section from a very elevated position, commanding a searching view, and taking the enemy right in flank at a very effective range. This is only an object lesson as to what will unquestionably happen in war should an enemy land at Sandy Bay or Taihowan Bay on the west and march on Belchers. Once landed we might very probably be unable to stop him, simply for want of proper communication for getting our men into the required positions.
3. The plan forwarded herewith* shows the required roads in red ink.
4. The execution of these would have the great advantage of opening up a splendid position for the movable Artillery and machine guns of the defence on the southern shoulder of High West above Pokfulum Reservoir. At present this position is so very inaccessible that it is practically almost out of the question for Infantry, and quite out of the question for Artillery.
[389]
*Not printed (Secretary, C.D.C.)
B 2
Page 114
76
Page 114
Page 114