COPY.
No. 4.
From the Officer Commanding the Troops to the Governor.
C.O. 46436
Sir,
Head Quarters,
Hongkong, 17th October, 1906.
I have the honour to bring to Your Excellency's notice that, during the typhoon of the 19th September last, the 8 electric light emplacements at Beucher's were destroyed; the valuable projectors were much damaged, and in some cases were only recovered by diving.
As Your Excellency is aware, the efficient lighting of the West entrance is vital to the defence of the Fortress at night.
When these lights were proposed, the Colonial Government declined to give a site on the Praya on the grounds, presumably, of interference with traffic.
Their construction on piles in front of the Praya wall was thus forced on us, although it was obviously an unsuitable and risky arrangement.
I do not feel justified in advising the War Department to replace them as before, as they would always be exposed to a similar risk.
I have therefore to ask Your Excellency to be good enough to consider the question of a grant of sites on the Praya for these emplacements, or those which may replace them, on a possible modification of the lighting scheme. The emplacements will only take up a few square feet, and there is ample room for the traffic which, as far as I have ever observed, is not interfered with.
To His Excellency
The Governor.
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