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3. The War Office have also referred to the Colonial Defence Committee for consideration in connection with the Defence Scheme a letter from the General Officer Commanding, dated the 18th August, 1897, on the subject of the construction of a road between Wan-Chai and Wong-nei-Chong gaps, at the expense of the Colony, in exchange for certain W.D. rights over land at Mounts Nicholson and Cameron. The subject is also referred to on p. 6 (3rd paragraph) and p. 28 (5th paragraph) of the Defence Scheme, where, however, proposals for new works to be constructed in peace are, by paragraph 47, Section V, Queen's Regulations, 1895, out of place. The General Officer Commanding looks upon the proposed road as "of vital and paramount importance to any proper defence of the south side of Hong Kong;" and the Commanding Royal Engineer in his Memorandum, referred to in the preceding paragraph of these Remarks, explains in full the purpose for which the road is required. This is not so much to provide communication between the two gaps, which could better be furnished by roads in rear of the Mounts, as to give access to positions from which the most probable lines of an enemy's advance from the south shore can be swept with artillery, machine-gun, and infantry fire.
It appears to the Colonial Defence Committee that the General Officer Com- manding somewhat over-estimates the value of the proposed road, for the reasons already stated in the W.O. letter to him, dated the 9th June, 1897 (Hong Kong 5/9985/97), In view, however, of the strong opinions expressed by officers who have carefully studied the question on the ground, and in view of the fact that the possession of rights over the tops of Mounts Cameron and Nicholson appears on the whole to be less of a military advantage than the facilities for observing and firing over the slopes of these hills, which would be given by the proposed road, the Committee concur in the recommendation of the General Officer Commanding, and suggest that the War Office should communicate with the Colonial Office on the subject of the construction of the road by the Colonial Government. They would observe that, if the road is to be of value for military purposes, it will be necessary to prevent buildings being constructed on the ground immediately below it.
The construction of another road, viz., one round High West, is recommended by the Commanding Royal Engineer. The General Officer Commanding, in his letter of the 24th April, 1897, gives reasons against the necessity for this communication, and the Colonial Defence Committee concur in these reasons.
Chapter I.-Strategic Considerations.
4. Page 5.-It is considered that the description of the strategic conditions of Hong Kong, as given in the Scheme, might advantageously be expanded as follows, so as to be of greater assistance in a first perusal of the Scheme :-
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"Hong Kong is an important commercial port, and a base for the ships of Her Majesty's navy operating in the Eastern Pacific.
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"Its strategic situation renders it liable to attack-
"(1.) By the garrison maintained by France in Indo-China.
(2.) By Japan.
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(3.) By Russia from her base in the Far East.
As regards (1), the French garrison in Indo-China consists in round numbers of 6,000 Europeans and 15,000 natives; but it is widely scattered in small detachments over an extensive area, the population of which is to a great extent hostile. It has been calculated, therefore, that the largest force which could be put in the field for offensive purposes would not be more than 4,400 infantry (European and native) and four mountain batteries. Saigon, the port of Indo-China, is 900 miles distant from Hong Kong. It has a fair harbour, and is protected by the difficulties of navigation. Hanoi, a secondary French port, is 500 miles distant.
"As regards (2), Japan has proved her capability of sending a military expedition of over 60,000 men across the seas. She has ample means of transport, and good bases. Nagasaki is 1,050 miles from Hong Kong, while the new advanced base, Formosa, is but 475 miles.
"As regards (3), the Russian base, Vladivostock, is 1,650 miles from Hong Kong; but the acquisition by Russia of a nearer port (free from ice throughout the year) may be effected in the not very distant future. Moreover, when the Siberian Railway is finished, and in efficient working order, an event which may be expected early in the twentieth century, the military power of Russia in the Far East will be materially increased. At present, however, it is not thought that Russia, either acting by herself or in combination with France, could furnish men for a military expedition against Hong Kong; but her increased Eastern navy, if acting from French bases, could much facilitate the transport of a French expeditionary force from Indo-China.
"Germany maintains a small fleet in Far Eastern waters, but it may at present be said to refit at Hong Kong.
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