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so much importance that I most respectfully suggest that the matter be referred to a Board
composed of
one Naval Officer, the Captain Superintendent
of Police and
myself, or such other persons as the Governor sees fit.
Excellency
The question of rendering assistance to the Military as regards torpedo defences, has been reported on, and a conclusion was then come to that it would be unwise
to train Chinese in Torpedo or other warfare, as, in the event
of difficulties between the two Empires of Great Britain and China, the Government of the latter would be able,
as during a previous War, to bring such pressure to bear on their subjects residing at this place,
thereby causing them to supply themselves with trained men to act against ourselves.
In the enclosed return
none of the Chinese can be called anything more than boatmen.
Out of the European Police Force five have been...