No. 128. APPENDIX
Despatch of Governor
No. 17042/599
RECO
Ox
JUL 15
Government House, Hong Kong, 31st May, 1899.
Sir,
On 21st April 1899, and again on 3rd May, 1899
I have the honour to forward for your information and favourable consideration the enclosed copy of a letter from the Commandant of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps to the Chief Staff Officer in this Command on the subject of the re-armament of the Field Battery of the Corps, together with a copy of a minute by His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, Major-General Gascoigne.
2. I concur in General Gascoigne's opinion that the Battery should be equipped with a more modern field piece than that at present in use, which is obsolete and worn out, and that the question of what kind of modern armament should be provided instead should be referred to the Ordnance Committee in England.
3. Six guns would be the proper establishment, and the rough estimate, furnished by the Chief Ordnance Officer for providing more modern guns, amounts to about £3,000 sterling; on this point, however, you will doubtless consult the War Department.
The Right Honourable JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P., &c.
4. I may add that during the recent events &c.