Page 287
Page 287
Page 287
28
No. 36.
The Right Hon. Sir M. E. Hicks Beach, Bart., to Governor Hennessy, C.M.G.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, June 23, 1879.
I HAVE had under my consideration your Confidential and Secret despatches of the 24th May, 13th June, and 15th and 16th July, 1878, relative to the defence of Hong Kong, in the first of which you call attention to the possibility of utilizing the Colony as a recruiting ground for raising Chinese regiments for the Queen's service in India or in any part of the world.
2. I have now the honour to transmit to you a copy of the accompanying corres- pondence, which has taken place on the subject of your despatches, from which you will perceive that it is proposed to appoint a Local Committee to report as to the possibility of supplementing from European, Malay, and any other material, as well as Chinese, the small Imperial force ordinarily maintained in the Colony, and of turning any and every available and trustworthy local means to account, by organizing it so as to make up the garrison to what is requisite for an effective defence in time of war.*
3. I therefore request that, immediately on the receipt of this despatch, you will appoint a Committee, consisting of three military officers and two civilians, one or both of whom should be officers of the Local Government, and thoroughly conversant with the
and other
Chinese inhabitants of the Colony, to consider and report as to the practicability of the proposed scheme, in accordance with the request contained in the letter from the War Office to the Colonial Office of the 8th January last, and if they recommend its adoption, as to the legislative and other measures necessary for carrying it into effect.
request
to name
You will, of course, consult General Donovan on the choice of the military members of the proposed Committee.
4. The question for the consideration of the Committee is, as you will perceive from the enclosed correspondence, to be confined to the enlistment of auxiliary forces for service within Hong Kong, and is not to extend to the question of enlisting forces for service out of the Colony.
5. As soon as you are in possession of the Committee's Report, you should submit it to the General Officer Commanding the troops for his remarks, and you will transmit to me any Memorandum with which he may favour you, and furnish me at the same time with such observations as you may desire to be laid before me.
I have, &c.
(Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
No. 37.
Colonial Office to War Office.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Downing Street, June 25, 1879. WITH reference to your Secret and Confidential letter of the 17th instant, I am directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to request that you will inform Secretary Colonel Stanley that he concurs in the suggested alterations in the draft despatch to the Governor of Hong Kong with reference to the appointment of a Local Committee to consider the question of the enlistment of auxiliary forces to supplement the regular forces of that place, and I am to state that the despatch will be sent by the next mail.
(Signed)
I am, &c.
R. H. MEADE.
* Colonial Office to Colonial Defence Committee, July 17; Extract of Colonial Office to War Office, June 7; Colonial Defence Committee, July 29; Colonial Office to Foreign Office, August 26; Colonial Defence Committee, August 2; Colonial Office to War Office, September 4; Foreign Office, October 17; Colonial Office to Colonial Defence Committee, October 28, 1878; War Office to Colonial Office, January 1; Colonial Office to War Office, February 8; War Office to Colonial Office, April 19, 1879.
Page 287
Page 287