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defence of Hong Kong out of the balance standing to the credit of the Colony in the Treasury Appendix No. 4. Chest.
2. I shall refer your despatch to the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, who, no doubt, will give the subject full consideration when they deal with the defence of Hong Kong.
3. You are, however, no doubt aware that the late Colonial Defence Committee recommended in their Report on the defences of Hong Kong, that two gun-boats, each mounting an 18-ton gun, should be provided for the defence of that station at an estimated cost of 26,000l., and with regard to the surplus balances to which you refer as being at the disposal of the Colony, I would remind you that provision must be made for the waterworks as well as for the works mentioned in your despatch, and that your Government is also liable for the colonial share of the defence works which have already been provided, or which may be contemplated by the Royal Commission.
I have, &c. (Signed)
M. E. HICKS BEACH.
HONG KONG.
No. 87.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, February 3, 1880.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for the Colonies to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, copies of two despatches from the Governor of Hong Kong, reporting the steps which he has taken for the appoint- ment of a local Committee to consider and report as to the possibility of supplementing from local sources the Imperial force usually stationed in that Colony.
Copies of these despatches have been communicated to the War Office, and I am to say that the instructions for the appointment of the Committee will be found at p. 28 (No. 36) of the printed paper, Miscellaneous No. 38, containing further correspondence respecting colonial defences.
Inclosure 1 in No. 87.
I am, &c.
(Signed)
JOHN BRAMSTON.
Governor Hennessy to Sir M. Hicks Beach.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Government House, Hong Kong, November 22, 1879. IN accordance with the instructions in your despatch of the 23rd June, 1879, I have appointed a local Committee to consider and report on the proposed scheme of supplementing from local sources the Imperial force ordinarily maintained in Hong Kong.
2. On General Donovan's return from Peking, he gave me the names of the following officers whom he had selected to serve on the Committee:-
Lieutenant-Colonel Stuart, R.E.
Lieutenant-Colonel Hall, R.A.
Lieutenant-Colonel Geddes, 27th Regiment.
To those I added Mr. Tonnochy and Mr. Creagh, the two officers of the local Government— with the exception of Dr. Eitel-most conversant with the Chinese inhabitants of the Colony. Mr. Creagh, who is now the Senior Acting Police Magistrate, is the officer who raised and brought to Hong Kong the Sikh contingent of our police force.
3. I inclose, for your information, a copy of the Minute appointing the Committee. Colonel Stuart has been selected as Chairman, and, at the request of the Committee, I have appropriated 1007. for the pay of a Secretary.
I have, &c. (Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY
L
Inclosure 2 in No. 87.
Minute by his Excellency John Pope Hennessy, Governor and Commander-in-chief of Hong Kong.
(Secret and Confidential.)
IN accordance with instructions from Her Majesty's Government (and after communication with his Excellency General Donovan), I proceed to appoint a Confidential Committee, consisting of the Honourable Malcolm Struan Tonnochy, Acting Colonial Treasurer, Colonel Stuart, Commanding Royal Engineers, Colonel Hall, Commanding Royal Artillery, Colonel Geddes, Commanding 27th Inniskillings, and Charles Vandeleur Creagh, Senior Acting Police Magistrate, to consider and report to me on the practicability of raising an auxiliary force composed of Europeans, Chinese,
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