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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]
Printed for the use of the Colonial Defence Committee.
SECRET.
No. 428 M.
II.
C.O. Nos. 22757/09 and 5151/10. W.O. Nos. 34/1262, and Hong
Kong 5/228.
80NG KONG.
Standard of Defences.
40
Memorandum by the Colonial Defence Committee.
THE question of the standard of defences at Hong Kong was referred to the Colonial Defence Committee by the Colonial Office in connection with a despatch, dated the 11th December, 1908, from the Governor of Hong Kong, forwarding a letter on the subject from Vice-Admiral Sir Hedworth Lambton, Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet.
The despatch of the Governor and its enclosures are printed as Appendix I to this Memorandum.
I.--Admiral Lambton's Criticisms.
2. Admiral Lambton dissents from the general scheme of defence of Hong Kong. He is of opinion that the existing defences are insufficient to deal with the scale of overses attack that must under existing conditions be regarded as reasonably probable. He considers that the weakness of the defences is so marked as almost to invite attack. He points out that :—
"When the island was acquired in 1841, England was undisputed mistress of the seas in Far Eastern waters, and there was consequently no necessity for converting our new position into a stronghold.
Now, however, all is changed. European politics obviously necessitating the retention of the great bulk of our naval forces in home waters, thus leaving Japan completely supreme at sea. This superiority there is no reasonable prospect of England being ever again able to challenge. In fact, it is more than probable that England will have in the future to content herself with third place, for the enormous suns that the United States of America is spending on the land defences of Subig and Manila clearly foreshadow the intention of that country to keep a powerful squadron in Asiatic waters..
...
II. Conclusions of the Committee of Imperial Defence.
3. Admiral Lambton's letter was discussed by the Colonial Defence Committee at their meeting of the 18th March, 1909, when it was decided that before dealing with his criticisms on the defences of Hong Kong it was necessary that an authoritative decision should be obtained on the important issues raised by him, which materially affect the fundamental principles upon which the system of Imperial defence is based.
4. The Colonial Defence Committee accordingly prepared a Memorandum, No. 405 M., dated the 7th April, 1909, on the standard of defences at British defended ports in distant seas, which was considered by the Committee of Imperial Defence at their 102nd meeting on the 29th June, 1909, when the following conclusions were adopted :—
“(a.) So long as the Anglo-Japanese Alliance remains in force, the British
'possessions in the Far East are secure.
"
"(b.) Care should be taken sufficiently to reinforce the fleet in the Far East "before the termination of the Alliance in order to neutralise the danger "from a preponderant Japanese fleet in China seas,
[345]
B
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