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Colony, as, Sir M. Nathan pointed out, "will be that two of the signal stations--one overlooking the western, and one overlooking the eastern, entrance to the harbour- will be in charge of men thoroughly trained in the special duty of detecting and reporting foreign war vessels, which will be of the utmost importance in war."
The Colonial Defence Committee consider that such an arrangement would be of great advantage to the defence.
5. Paragraph 5. Lighthouses.-The Colonial Defence Committee see no objection to the lighthouses at Gap Rock and Waglan continuing in time of war their usual peace routine as regards the signalling of ships. As explained on page 14 of the Defence Scheme, the information sent from the lighthouses is that supplied by the vessel concerned. If she hoists no colours or house flag she is reported as a steamer or sailing ship. The Committee concur in the opinion of the Governor that this could not be construed into an abuse of lighthouse neutrality.
6. Paragraph 6 and Enclosure 1, paragraph 6. Examination lines.-The Colonial Defence Committee see no objection to the alteration of the bearing of the examina- tion line in Lyemun Pass from N. 47° E. (true) to N. 40° E. (true); nor to the alteration. of the examination line north of Stonecutter Island from the line N. 22° W. (true) recommended by the Committee to N. 7° W. (true), instead of N. 7° 30′ W. (true) as proposed in the Defence Scheme-bearings of examination lines to degrees are sufficient for all practical purposes.
The proposal to establish two examination lines at the western entrance between Stonecutter Island and Hong Kong raises again a somewhat complex question. The existing arrangement can hardly be considered satisfactory, as the guns of the Belcher examination battery in firing on a ship crossing the line without permission would be pointing directly at the other examination battery on the western extremity of Stone- cutter Island at a distance of 4,000 yards only.
On the other hand, the proposal in the Scheme to have two examination lines at an angle is open to many objections, although it obviates the danger mentioned above. From a tactical point of view the best solution of the problem would doubtless be to confine incoming ships from the westward to the use of the channel north of Stonecutter Island, and the Sulphur Channel between Green Island and Hong Kong. This was proposed in the 1903 Defence Scheme, but was opposed in paragraph 25 of the Committee's Remarks No. 340 R on the general ground that this restriction was calculated to interfere with the full use of the port, and would tend to deter shipping from frequenting it.
On re-examining the question, however, in the light of information supplied by two officers intimately acquainted with Hong Kong, the Committee find that this objection falls to the ground. Steamers arriving or departing by the western approaches use the Sulphur Channel in any case, except those making for the Cosmo- The central politan (North Kowloon) Docks, which use the Stonecutter Channel. channel between Stonecutter Island and Green Island is little used except by junks and Canton boats, being not only off the shortest lines of approach and departure, but also relatively shoaler, especially in the southern half of the channel over the Kellet Bank. To close this channel altogether would render the western examination service a simple matter, add materially to the safety of the harbour, and incommode important traffic hardly at all. The exact method of closing the channel might be tried by experiment. As vessels approaching Hong Kong from Canton and the West River round the southern end of Chung Hue (see key map facing title) -the passage between that island and the mainland being somewhat dangerous-the Stonecutter examina- tion steamer, meeting these and vessels from the south, would probably be working west by south of Stonecutter West Battery, and in conjunction with the Sulphur Channel examination vessel, aided by their junk traffic tugs (see paragraph 42 below referring to Schedule (A) on page 107 of Scheme), should have no difficulty in closing the channel between Stonecutter and Green Islands. Failing this, a couple of patrol boats there might be tried. The newly proposed Belcher examination line and the examination line north of Stonecutter Island would then answer all requirements. The line S. 27° W. (true) from Stonecutter West Battery would be marked on the A mark buoy will be map as closed to traffic by the Stonecutter examination service. required to indicate the point of intersection of the Sulphur Channel examination line, and the line from Stonecutter West Battery. It should be laid down at the precautionary stage of the Defence Scheme.
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