&
Coby
Your Excellency..
C. O.
29323
REC
R 30 CT 9
541
So far as I can understand it, my opinion is asked for, as to the desirability or otherwise from a military point of view, of a roadway being made close above the sea round Mount Davis.
I shall regret extremely if my first decision is antagonistic to the general wishes of the Colony which has received me with so much kindness, but I am bound to say that I should look upon such a roadway as being highly undesirable in a military sense.
There are already various points in the defence of the Island which I can best describe as being points of anxiety.
The coast round Mount Davis, as it at present exists, is absolutely secure. A roadway brought along it close to the sea would render this an additional point of weakness, and as the garrison of Hong Kong is none too large, I cannot afford to increase the number of weak points requiring special forces to guard them.
(Signed) J. Gascoigne,
Major-General.
17-1-99.