COPY.
Sir,
No. 8.
From the Officer Commanding Troops to the Governor.
C. O.
46436
Head Quarters, Hongkong, 14th November, 1903.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's letter No. 3547/1903 - C.S.V., dated 5th instant.
I greatly regret the refusal of my request for sites for these lights, as I cannot conceive that such small buildings can really affect the traffic even when developed, and from my point of view, the importance of the defence so far outweighs the possible delay of a few Chinamen, for a minute or two, that I feel it my duty to refer the matter to the War Office, with a view to the Colonial Office being pressed by them for approval.
Granting that the typhoon of the 18th September was exceptional, I regret I cannot agree with Your Excellency that the Defence Lights can be considered on a par with the wharves. Wharves, from their very nature, must be built out into the water, and if destroyed, do not affect the entrance of an enemy's vessel, whereas the absence of defence lights even for one night must paralyse the night defence, and I do not consider that such risk should be taken which can be avoided.
To replace these valuable and delicate mechanisms in such unprotected emplacements as those now destroyed...
His Excellency The Governor.