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Appendix No. 4. Colony, it was not with that idea that Colonel Crossman and myself started on it. It was simply on
grounds of defence. Hong Kong.
9. It seemed to me that the naval and military establishments being right on the water's edge, in the centre of the town were particularly exposed to the fire of enemy's ships coming in from the east- ward or westward. Whereas, if they were placed in a secluded corner like Causeway Bay and the adjacent hills, they would be protected from attack, except at exceedingly long range from the west- ward.
10. The levelling which the hills will require to fit them for sites for the barracks will produce abundant earth for filling up Causeway Bay. This need not deprive the boat population of the projected harbour of refuge, as a more convenient and in every way better suited harbour could be made at the extreme end of the bay which lies immediately to the back of the village of Yaú-ma-ti, in British Kowloon.
I have, &c. (Signed)
M. S. TONNOCHY.
Inclosure 2 in No. 98.
Colonel Crossman to Administrator Tonnochy.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Hong Kong, September 24, 1881. IN connection with the defences of this island, concerning which I have been directed by the War Office to confer with your Excellency, the present position of the naval and military establish- ments at Hong Kong is one which, I would submit, ought to be taken into serious consideration.
The original military cantonment on which these establishments are placed, is divided into two parts by the principal thoroughfares of the Colony, and is also, owing to land having been disposed of in former times, occupied in part by a large Chinese population.
Not only are the troops, from the position of the barracks, separated from each other, but the Ordnance Store Department which provides the whole of the naval and military armament is distributed in five different places.
This subdivision would, in the event of an outbreak among the Chinese population, render the buildings and establishments liable to be destroyed in detail, and, however unlikely such an outbreak may be under present circumstances, still, in considering the defences of Hong Kong as the principal Imperial naval station in the Pacific, such a contingency ought to be provided for.
In time of peace also, there can be no doubt that it would be of immense advantage to the public service if all the naval and military establishments were concentrated.
The Colonial Government is at present forming a harbour of refuge at Causeway Bay, and I propose for your consideration whether if this harbour could be removed to some other position, such as Yau-ma-ti Bay, it would not be as well to form on the line of the proposed breakwater, a wharf-wall which would run in about 12 feet of water, and reclaim the whole of the ground (shown yellow on plan).*
On the ground so reclaimed, or on such part of it as may be necessary, the whole of the buildings and offices connected with the Naval Ordnance, Commissariat, and Engineer (including submarine mining) establishments might be placed.
The new barracks should be built on the high ground overlooking the bay in such positions as may be selected by the military authorities.
This might be done by the Colony, who should prepare the whole of the new buildings. On their completion the Imperial Government would move their men and stores into the new positions, and hand over the present Imperial property in Victoria to the Colony.
This no doubt would entail a large outlay from Colonial funds, but from the rough estimate I have been able to make, I think that even if the Colony has to borrow for the immediate expenditure, the money would eventually be recouped, and the Government would be able, should the naval authorities coincide, to improve the town, as they have long wished to do, by continuing the Praya along the whole water-front from the Murray Pier to the Ordnance Wharf at Wellington Barracks.
From information I have received, it would appear that to build the wharf-wall and reclaim the land at Causeway Bay would cost 500,000 dollars.
To provide new military establishments equivalent to those now existing would cost 1,250,000 dollars.
New naval establishments would cost 500,000 dollars. Making a total cost of 2,250,000 dollars.
The land and buildings handed over occupy upwards of 80 acres of ground; a considerable quantity of this could not be built upon, but 40 acres may be said to be valuable property, worth at least 2 dollars per square foot; the sale of this, exclusive of the value of the buildings themselves, would realize 2,500,000 dollars.
I say nothing of making the Praya wall along the front of the present War Department and Navy property, as the additional reclaimed land would pay for that.
The removal of the present magazines would also place at the disposal of the Colony valuable building land along the Kennedy Road.
As regards the military and colonial requirements, I think the proposed change would be most beneficial to both Departments. As to the requirements for the navy, I do not profess to give an opinion, though I have included the removal of the naval yard in the scheme proposed; I have, however, forwarded, confidentially, a copy of this letter to the Commodore.
* Not printed.
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