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CHAPTER I.
3
Hong Kong harbour is about 8 miles long, from the eastern entrance at Lyemun to Green Island, on which is a lighthouse for the western entrance.
The whole of the south side is formed by the Island of Hong Kong; the north side is part of the mainland of China, now leased to the British Government. On the west are the islands of Stonecutters', Chung-Hue, and Green Island.
Near the centre of the north shore, the peninsula of Kowloon divides the harbour into three main portions: the western, west of Kowloon; the central, between Kowloon and the Island of Hong Kong; and the eastern, east of the peninsula.
The western portion forms the principal commercial harbour. The most important establishments on its shores, along the mainland, are the Cosmopolitan Docks, owned by the Hong Kong and Whampoa Dock Company, at Tai-Kok-Tsui, and the Naval Torpedo Depôt and coal store at Yaumati. The city of Victoria stretches along its southern boundary, and exhibits along its sea front a succession of important factories, warehouses and shops, and continuing eastwards, forms also the southern boundary of the central harbour.
12. Nearly the whole of the water area in the western portion is allotted to permanent moorings, so arranged as to leave well defined channels through the masses of shipping which are always present in this part of the harbour.
In the centre portion the important establishments are the Hong Kong and Whampoa Company's Docks at Hunghom, on the mainland, and the Naval Dockyard and Military Establishments in Victoria. The greater portion of the water area is allotted for permanent moorings for His Majesty's ships.
The eastern portion is much less used, mainly because the north shore was, until recently, under the Chinese Government; but important docks are in hand at Quarry Bay, and an extension over this area may be expected at an early date.
13. The only important establishment not included in the harbour, are the docks at Aberdeen, but these have now little value for His Majesty's ships, and should rely on their own resources for defence.
14. The rise and fall of tide is very irregular, but the average may be taken at 6 feet between high and low spring tides.
15. The harbour can be entered from either end. At the east end the only entrance is through the Lyemun Pass, about 400 yards wide and 900 yards long. The depth in the pass at low water is 20 fathoms, the minimum depth in the approaches, outside the pass is 6 fathoms, and there is also at least this depth of water from inside the pass to the naval anchorage and the west side of the harbour. The approaches to this entrance are marked by lights on the Waglan Rocks and at Cape Collinson.
The channel is used nearly always by His Majesty's ships, and may be considered the main entrance to Hong Kong harbour. High ground exists on both sides of the pass, which are occupied by batteries, and the conditions are very favourable for defence.
16. The main gun defences are Gough and Pottinger batteries on the north side (when completed), and Lyemun Redoubt and Sywan Battery on the south side.
There are anti-torpedo boat batteries on the south side at Pak-Sha-Wan, and at the south-west corner.
There is a Brennan torpedo establishment on the south side in the pass itself, and there are five electric lights.
Arrangements are also made to lay a mine-field in the pass, but this is not kept laid, and would not be laid without Naval concurrence.
17. The examination ground for vessels entering is in Junk Bay, and there is an examination service for this entrance.
18. At the western end the total width of the entrance from the Island of Hong Kong to the mainland is about 6,000 yards, but this is divided at Green Island and Stonecutters Island into three entrance channels.
Of these, the southernmost, called the Sulphur Channel, is 400 yards wide, and is the one used by most of the larger shipping entering on the west side of the harbour. The centre channel between Green Island and Stonecutters is 4,000 yards wide, but the effective width is much reduced by Kellet's Bank, which stretches north from Green
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