"Lo views have never been carried out in this, nor in other respects."
2.
I should have added to the above remarks that Hongkong is the principal depot of coals in this quarter of the world for the supply of Her Majesty's ships; and that the British Squadron in these seas would be practically paralyzed by the sudden capture or destruction of that depôt.
3.
However, my main motive in again requesting attention to this vital question in its various bearings, is a desire to take this opportunity of informing Your Lordship that, of late, strong claims have been publicly put forth in this community to the effect that it would be only just and fair that the annual Military contribution of Twenty thousand pounds (£20,000) paid by Hongkong to the Imperial Government should be spent on the fortifications here, as was (it is believed) the case with the Military Contribution of about the same amount formerly paid by the ...