Enclosure 2.
Colonel Officer
0.0. 17042 RECO REC 3 JUL 19 604
His Excellency The Governor.
Forwarded. I am strongly of opinion that every endeavour should be made to equip the Hongkong Volunteers with a more modern Field piece. Those at present in use are quite obsolete and worn out. At the same time I consider that any modern armament to be issued to them should be the same as that which may be issued to the Royal Artillery, in order that we should have in the command, as far as possible, the much to be desired uniformity.
The question of a suitable Field Piece for the moveable armament, Royal Artillery, is at present under consideration of the War Office. It would be advisable to refer the question to the Ordnance Committee in England.
Hongkong, 4th May, 1899.
(Sd.) W. J. Gascoigne, Major-General, Commanding Troops Hongkong and China