C O/P Y
Soncini Eeen sine
Frou
To
The General Officer Commanding
16363
Free
In China and Hongkong.
H.B. The Governor of Hongkong.
&
-20 JUN 9
Hongkong, May 15th, 1899.
393
Sir,
In reply to Your Excellency's letter of this date informing me of the Cable despatch received by you, and in which you ask me to make arrangements to carry out the operation agreed between us: viz. of sending 100 men to occupy Kowloon City and 2,000 men to take Shan Chun, I have the honour to inform you that
I have made arrangements accordingly, and these operations are only awaiting your final orders which orders I trust may be sent me as soon as possible.
In reply to your further question as to whether, in the event of Her Majesty's Government directing that Shan Chun Valley to the hills be occupied, I am prepared to hold it for the present with the force already at my disposal, I have the honour to state that I am prepared to so hold it for the present: but that what I do desire is a lengthened occupation of a large extension of territory, far from my base, which could only be carried out by weakening my garrison in Hongkong proper. It is one thing to hold temporarily, but altogether another to occupy, and police for an indefinite period. It is this latter to which I must offer
objection