Hong Kong.
Confidential
Sir,
Car.113/1897
335
12 SEP
Government House.
4 August 1904
I have the honour to forward a copy of a dispatch dated the 15th of July 1904, which I have received from the Commander in Chief of the China Station on the subject of wireless telegraphy and of war signal stations at Hong Kong to be worked by the Navy.
(2) I concur in the proposal that all wireless telegraphy work at Hong Kong be carried out by the Navy at the station at Cape d'Aguilar, including such work as may be required for commercial purposes and, as regards the suggestion that no further licences be granted to private companies, I have the honour to inform you that the only licence that has hitherto been issued under the "Wireless Telegraphy Ordinance" No 4 of 1903 is to the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company, which company has an installation for communication with their repairing ships that are fitted with the apparatus. This licence is an annual one and its renewal, in the first instance, can be considered later in consultation with the Naval Authorities.
(3) The site of the proposed Naval wireless telegraphy installation, formerly a lighthouse the purpose of which no longer exists now that we have one light on "Woglan Island" and that the one formerly exhibited from Cape d'Aguilar is to be transferred to Green Island, there is no probability of it becoming again necessary to have a light at Cape d'Aguilar and therefore no objection on this score to the existing building being handed over to the Navy. The land on which it stands is of little value and I propose that it should be handed over free of charge to the Naval Authorities and also that the necessary alterations required to make the building suitable for use as a wireless telegraphy and port war signal station should be executed by the Colony.
(4) By the Navy working the signal stations at Cape d'Aguilar and the Peak, the cost of maintaining a watchman at Cape d'Aguilar ($132 per annum), possibly that of a telegraph clerk there ($480 to $600), and certainly that of a signalman at the Peak ($600 to $840) – a minimum of $1,272 and maximum of $1,572 – will be saved to the Colony.
(5) The main advantage to the Colony will, however, be that two of the signal stations overlooking the Western and one overlooking the Eastern approaches to the harbour will be in charge of men thoroughly trained in the special duty of detecting and reporting foreign war vessels, which will be useful not only in peace but also in war. The commercial reporting from the seas and...
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The Right Honourable
Alfred Lyttelton, K.C., M.P.
etc. etc. etc.
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