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APPENDIX.
Acting Governor to Secretary of State.
My Lord,
Government House, Hong Kong, July 25, 1907. REFERRING to Sir Matthew Nathan's confidential despatch of the 25th June, 1906, I have the honour to transmit ten copies of the Report on the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps for the year ending the 31st March, 1907.
2. On that date the total strength of the corps was 290 as against 274 on the corresponding date in the previous year. Discipline and efficiency were well maintained during the year and Major- General Broadwood, who made the annual inspection of the corps in March last, expressed himself as well satisfied. At the Annual Camp practical work was done by the electricians in lighting the camp.
Ten cadets from the Victoria British School attended the camp.
3. The Volunteer Troop held a special camp in the New Territories during the Christmas holidays, an innovation which gave the members an opportunity of learning new country and doing much practical work. I enclose a photograph* showing the Volunteer Troop escorting His Royal Highness the Duke of Connaught to Government House on the occasion of his recent visit to Hong Kong.
The
4. A separate report for the year 1906 on the Volunteer Reserve Association is attached. various shooting competitions were well attended throughout the year, and there has been a marked improvement in the marksmanship of the majority of members. In the next report attention will be paid to giving details of the efficiency in musketry attained by the members of the Association as a whole, in addition to recording the performances of individuals in the competitions.
The new rifle range at the Peak was opened during the year and has relieved the congestion at the King's Park range, in the use of which the members of the Volunteer Corps now enjoy a greater share.
5. Thirty-seven officers of the Civil Service not belonging to either the Volunteers or the Volunteer Reserve Association volunteered for work on the military telephones in the event of war, as compared with thirty-two last year. They were not required to attend the mobilization. Eleven private medical practitioners are now registered for service in the naval and military hospitals in time
of war.
6. There are thus in all 589 members of the British civil population who have definitely engaged to assist His Majesty's forces in emergency as compared with 547 in the previous year.
7. In addition to these, twenty-three ladies, three of whom are professionally trained nurses and the remainder holders of the St. John's Ambulance Association medallions or certificates for both first aid and home nursing, have registered their names for service as nurses.
8. The new volunteer headquarters were opened in December last, and have given great satisfaction.
9. I take this opportunity of acknowledging your Lordship's confidential despatch of the 1st February giving cover to the Remarks No. 421 R by the Colonial Defence Committee on the Report on the Hong Kong Volunteers for 1905-6. Musketry returns for the entire corps will be furnished, as suggested by the Committee, in the next report.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
F. H. MAY, Officer Administering the Government.
Enclosure.
Report of Commandant, Hong Kong Volunteer Corps.
1. ON the 31st March, 1906, the total strength of the corps was 274. The total strength of the corps on the 31st March, 1907, was 290. (Both totals include the Chinese orderly room clerk.)
Now that the new headquarters have been completed I am confident that the total will increase during the next year, particularly if the new infantry company, which has been discussed, is started.
2. During the past year 3 members have died, 51 have resigned (1 on medical certificate, 20 in the Colony, and 30 on leaving the Colony) and 1 has been struck off the strength.
3. Seventy-one new members have been enrolled.
4. The establishment of the Troop was raised in July to 43, namely, 1 officer, 1 sergeant, 1 corporal, and 40 troopers.
5. The Hong Kong Volunteer Reserve Association had on the 31st March, 1907, a membership of 248, an increase of 18 during the past twelve months. The members have carried out a large amount of rifle practice throughout the year at the King's Park range, Kowloon, which is more accessible than the volunteer range at Tai Hang, and at the Peak range which has been recently opened.
*Not reproduced.
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† Not printed.
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