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Appendix No. 4.
HONG KONG.
100 men will be provided for in the sanitarium.
Stanley Gap.
Barrack is wanted for 100 men.
Mountain batteries.
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If the sanitarium is built it will hardly be necessary to build a barrack for these troops as, during war, they will be able to find accommodation in the sani- tarium itself.
Accommodation for 100 men should be provided in any case.
The next gap is Stanley Gap, where the roads from Stauley and Tytam meet- and cross the ridge.
A barrack for 100 men should be provided here, with an intrenched position at the point where the two roads meet.
In addition to the infantry detailed for the defence of the last-named Two batteries (8 guns) proposed. positions, it would be advisable to have two batteries of mountain-guns, which
could be moved easily to any point of threatened attack.
Roads of communication near top of ridge.
Roads in extreme east of island closed by work at Quarry Point.
Pokfoolum Reservoir.
A road of communication exists between the Victoria and the Wan-tsai Gaps, and as proposed by the Commanding Royal Engineer, a road should be made along the north side of the hills, connecting Stanley Gap with the latter.
The remaining roads in the island, from Tytam Tuk and Sywan Bay will be closed by the work and barrack at Quarry Point.
The reservoir at Pokfoolum, which supplies the town of Victoria with water, Aqueduct exposed to seaward, by means of an aqueduct visible to seaward, and shown on plan, is a weak point, as it would be possible for a boat's crew to land under cover of fog or darkness and destroy it.
and easily destroyed.
Nightly guard to be provided.
Proposed new reservoir. Reservoir in Tytam Gap will require to be guarded by detach ment from Stanley Gap.
Preferable position for reservoirs on north side of island, within line
of defences.
Telegraphs should be established between all posts.
Local levics.
Chinese.
Reasons for not recommending the formation of a Chinese armed corps for service in Hong Kong,
Europeans.
Volunteers.
Suggestions of Committee of February 1880, as to formation of Volunteer forge.
It would, therefore, have to be guarded, and a nightly picket would have to be provided, which might occupy the police station close by.
It has been decided to place a separate reservoir at Tytam Valley, more in the centre of the island, where the water supply could not be so easily cut off, as it is at some distance from the landing-place at Sywan Bay, but still outside the line of defences, rendering it necessary to have a guard detached from the barracks at Stanley Gap.
It is for consideration, however, whether it is not possible (it is certainly very desirable) to obtain a position for a new reservoir in some of the nullahs on the north side of the island, and within the line of defences.
Four signal stations have been selected by the Committee, but to insure a proper defence of the island, telegraphic or telephonic communication must also be made between the various military and police posts.
GARRISON.*
As regards the employment of Chinese as soldiers it seems to be the general opinion here that such a course would be most inadvisable.
The Chinese in Hong Kong are so intimately connected with the people on the mainland, there being hardly a coolie but has some relations there, and they are so bound together and so much ruled by guilds and secret societies, that in the event of a disturbance with China, or a war with any Power having influence in China, the trained men might disappear in one night, carrying their arms with them, at an order from the Mandarins.
The Chinese authorities, too, would be glad to supply their army from time to time with men drilled by the English.
Although it has been proved that the Chinese are capable of making good soldiers, I think, having myself had some experience with them in former years, that it would be a hazardous experiment to supply them with arms and drill them in Hong Kong, where there are only 935 European and American men (384 of whom are so-called Portuguese) in the midst of a population of 78,130 Chinamen.† Of the 935 European adult male residents in the Settlement only 366 are British.
At the end of 1878 the Volunteer Corps numbered about 150 members, now there are not more than 50.
There can be no reason why, if properly managed, there should not be as many now as then.
The remarks of the former Colonial Defence Committee, dated the 17th February, 1880, on this subject, are well worthy of attention.
Their principal suggestions were :—
1. A capitation grant should be given to all applicants.
2. Free ammunition should be supplied yearly.
3. Expense of annual practice should be borne by the Government.
4. Proper drill sheds and armoury should be provided.
5. That the corps should be armed with Martini-Henry rifles.
6. That it should be exercised in conjunction with the regular troops.
7. That it should be periodically inspected by the officer commanding the troops.
8. (Most important of all.) That an officer of the regular army should be attached to the corps as Adjutant.
To insure success the greatest care also should be taken in the selection of the Commanding Officer, who should be a soldier, if possible; if not, some one of high standing in the Colony.
Sce Table No. 2.
+ See Table No. 7.
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