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a despatch from Sir Thomas Wade (30th September, 1878),* a despatch from the War Office (8th January, 1879),* and some other papers, including my despatch to Her Majesty's Government transmitting the Report of the Committee (6th March, 1880).†
4. In the latter you will see the opinions I have ventured to express on the defence of Hong Kong, and the possibility of raising a local force here for that purpose
5. No doubt your Excellency is in direct communication with Her Majesty's Government on this important subject, and from our many conversations I believe I have rightly gathered your general views respecting it, but it would be of manifest advantage if you would kindly read the inclosed papers and favour me with any observations you might think fit to make upon them.
6. As they are mostly originals, I should be glad to get them back as soon as convenient.
I have, &c.
Appendix No. 4.
HONG KONG
(Signed)
J. POPE HENNESSY.
(Secret and Confidential.) Sir,
Inclosure 9 in No. 88.
Vice-Admiral Coote to Governor Hennessy.
"Iron Duke," off Hong Kong, March 15, 1880.
I HAVE carefully read and considered your Secret and Confidential letter of the 12th March,‡ 1880, forwarding to me the Report of a Secret Committee appointed by your Excellency, under instructions from Sir Michael Hicks Beach, to consider the possibility of raising certain supplementary forces for the defence of Hong Kong, together with the observations of General Donovan, command- ing the forces, upon
it.
2. Your letter also covers the following despatches and papers :-
(1.) Letter from Sir Michael Hicks Beach, dated the 23rd June, 1879,* under which your Excellency appointed the Committee.
(2.) Despatch from Sir Thomas Wade, K.C.B., dated the 30th September, 1878.§
(3.) Despatch from the War Office, dated the 8th January, 1879.||
(4.) Letter from the Colonial Office to the War Office, dated the 4th September, 1878; and (5.) Your Excellency's letters of the 22nd November, 1879,¶ and the 6th March, 1880,† to Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.
3. I observe that Sir Michael Hicks Beach, in his letter dated the 23rd June, 1879, states that "it is proposed to appoint a local Committee to report as to the possibility of supplementing from European, Malay, and other material, as well as Chinese, the small Imperial force ordinarily main- tained in the Colony, and of turning any and every available and 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. over, the Secretary of State adds, that the question for the consideration of the Committee is "to be confined to the enlistment of auxiliary for service within Hong Kong."
More-
4. It appears, therefore, to me that the present inquiry is confined to the subject of the protection of Hong Kong by military operations, and the question of its defence by a naval element is not intended to be dealt with in the present instance.
5. On the subject of the military requirements for the effective defence of Hong Kong against a hostile force, I cannot venture to express a professional opinion; and as to the desirability or other- wise of raising a local force to supplement the small Imperial force usually maintained in the Colony, I regret I am not sufficiently conversant with the Chinese and other inhabitants of Hong Kong (nor will time now permit me to acquire an adequate knowlege) to express a decided opinion.
6. Broadly speaking, however, I concur in the views put forward by the Committee in their Report, and more especially in the Hakkahs forming the best available material amongst the Chinese for combatant purposes on a small scale.
7. The inclosures to your letter under reply are returned herewith, in accordance with your Excellency's request.
I have, &c. (Signed)
R. COOTE,
Vice-Admiral and Commander-in-chief.
No. 89.
Colonial Office to War Office.
Sir,
Downing Street, July 15, 1880.
I AM directed by the Earl of Kimberley to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th June,** and to inclose the draft of a despatch which his Lordship proposes, with Mr. Secretary Childers' concurrence, to address to the Governor of Hong Kong with reference to the recommenda- tion of the local Committee that the employment there of Chinese for combatant purposes should be
Inclosure 1. in No. 88.
* Printed in Colonial Office Correspondence, Miscellaneous No. 38 (No. 36).
Inclosure 8 in No. 88.
§ See Colonial Office Correspondence, Miscellaneous No. 35 E (No. 346). Colonial Office Correspondence, No. 38 (No. 3).
T Inclosure 1 in No. 87.
** See Inclosure in No. 91.
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