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Appendix No. 4.
Hong Kong.
very short space of time the ship assumed her usual appearance; and, being headed for the Shing- shimoon Pass, she steamed up between Cape D'Aguilar and Beaufort Island, and so towards Hong Kong Harbour through the Ly-ee-moon Pass.
I must not omit to mention that I met on board the "Wivern" the jolliest-looking old Chinaman I have ever seen. With a perfectly bronzed face and long white moustaches, and such a merry twinkle in his eye as is seldom seen in men of any age, he so attracted my attention that I asked who he was, and was informed that he was Mr. Woo Soo, who forty years ago piloted Admiral Parker's ship up the Canton River, and has continued to pilot British war ships ever since. It occurred to me that, so far as appearances go, the old man might be piloting ships forty years bence.
No. 101.
Sir,
Colonial Office to Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad.
Downing Street, May 10, 1882. WITH reference to previous correspondence, I am directed by the Earl of Kimberley to transmit to you, to be laid before the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce Abroad, a copy of a despatch from the Acting Governor of Hong Kong, inclosing a copy of a corre- spondence between the Colonial Secretary and the Assistant Military Secretary relative to the Report of Colonel Crossman, R.E., C.M.G., on the defences of Hong Kong.
I am, &c. (Signed)
R. H. MEADE.
(Secret and Confidential.) My Lord,
**
Inclosure 1 in No. 101.
Mr. Tonnochy to the Earl of Kimberley.
Government House, Hong Kong, March 23, 1882. IN continuation of Governor Honnessy's despatch, marked Secret and Confidential, of the 21st of last month, I have the honour to forward, for your Lordship's consideration, a copy of the Report of Colonel Crossman, C.M.G., R.E.,† which has been forwarded to the Lieutenant-General Commanding the Troops in this Colony by the Inspector-General of Fortifications.
2. This Report was seen by Governor Hennessy before he left the Colony, but was not forwarded with the Report of the local Committee, as it had not yet been copied.
3. I do not venture to comment on this Report as Governor Hennessy will be in England in a short time, and your Lordship will have the advantage of hearing his views on the subject.
I have, &c. (Signed)
M. S. TONNOCHY, Administrator.
Inclosure 2 in No. 101.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Acting Colonial Secretary to Acting Assistant Military Secretary.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, December 15, 1881. I HAVE the honour, by direction of the Governor, to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th instant, forwarding, for the information of his Excellency, a copy of a Report on the defences of Hong Kong, which has been transmitted by Colonel Crossman, C.M.G., R.E., to the Inspector-General of Fortifications at the War Office.
2. I am to say that, if his Excellency Lieutenant-General Donovan has no objection, the Governor would like to be favoured with his views on the subject before the Governor writes about it to the Earl of Kimberley.
I have, &c. (Signed)
M. S. TONNOCHY.
(Confidential.) Sir,
Inclosure 3 in No. 101.
Acting Assistant Military Secretary to Acting Colonial Secretary.
Hong Kong, January 7, 1882.
IN reply to your letter dated the 15th December, 1881, I have the honour, by direction, to state that some of the recommendations contained in the Report of Colonel Crossman, C.M.G., R.E., on the works now in progress for the defence of Hong Kong have been already approved, and the opinions of his Excellency the Lieutenant-General Commanding upon the project are already known to the Secretary of State for War. For these reasons, it is not General Donovan's intention upon this occasion to report fully on the subject.
With reference to the proposed removal of the naval and military establishments at Causeway Bay, I am, however, to observe that the Lieutenant-General considers that the site upon the hills is a difficult one to adapt to the requirements of a barrack, and that the sanitary conditions of the locality should be carefully inquired into.
I have, &c. (Signed)
C. J. HAMILTON, Major.
* Inclosure 1 in No. 100.
Inclosure 2 in No. 99.
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