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CHAPTER VII (J) and (K).
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16. By day they may enter the harbour by means of the Secret Signal, which is to be given to the Commanding Officer by the Signal Officer at 4 P.M. each day in advance.
17. They will fly a white ensign.
18. The attendance will be :-
(a.) Coal-Will be sent from Hong Kong. (b.) Water-Will be obtained at Stanley.
(c.) Provisions-Will be sent by contractor from Hong Kong. Parent ship to
arrange for her launches with V.S.O.
19. You will report each morning by telephone to the Commodore what patrols have been carried out, and if it is believed any mines have been laid, giving the position.
20. You will communicate each day with the Officer in Command of the sweeping craft to ensure that any suspicious spots have been notified to him.
21. The patrol by day may be modified by bringing the supporting gunboat
further out.
22. You will arrange a recognition signal from the ships under your command, which is to be changed frequently, care being taken that the torpedo-boat flotilla are informed..
23. Finally, you are to impress on all concerned the great importance of keeping the entrance clear of any obstructions to the safe use of Hong Kong.
(K.)—Duties of and Action by the Officer responsible for keeping the War Channel clear of Submarine Mines, and Cable Cutting.
PART I.-MINE SWEEPING.
(i.) Peace.
They
1. You are to keep these Secret Standing War Orders under lock and key. are to be handed over to your successor and a certificate to this effect is to be furnished to the Naval Secretary to the Commodore.
2. You are to make yourself familiar with the action to be taken by you in peace and on receipt of the "Warning" and "War" telegrams. Any suggestions for improving these war orders are to be brought to the notice of the Commodore through the Naval Secretary, reaching him on the first day of each quarter.
3. You are to make yourself conversant with the whole scheme for the defence of Hong Kong.
4. You are to have all letters, written orders, and other communications prepared in time of peace, so that there may be no delay in giving effect to these instructions.
5. In connection with the Local Defence, you are responsible, under the orders of the Commodore, that the War Channel is kept clear of mines. You are therefore responsible that all requirements of personnel, stores, steamers, &c., are detailed and ready. Any deficiencies are to be reported, as laid down in paragraph 2 of these instruction.
6. You are responsible for the arrangements for placing buoys to mark the channel cleared. The operations of buoying and sweeping a channel are to be practised once a quarter, and all available ratings are to be instructed, including Chinese seamen, the "Taku" and 4 torpedo-boats being used for this purpose.
(ii.) Mobilization.
1. On receipt of a communication that the "Warning" telegram has been received indicating that hostilities are imminent, you are, without further orders, on receipt of the necessary launches to buoy and clear a channel of approach to the harbour.
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