CONFIDENTIAL
Sir,
Copy
206 1 24140
Arek
Commodore's Office, 9 JUL 07
HONG KONG,
8th April 1907.
By present arrangements the direct telephone line from Port War Signal Station at D'Aguilar to Central Station in Dockyard is in charge of the Public Works Department for care & maintenance; this arrangement having been made before it was finally decided that the station was to be a War Signal, as well as Naval Wireless Station.
2.- This anomaly should in my opinion cease as soon as possible, as although the line is used solely by the Navy during peace it becomes a most important Defence line during war and should therefore be patrolled and kept repaired at all times in the same way as military lines upon which the defences rely so much.
3.- As I have no repairing staff for this purpose I have the honour to enquire if you are prepared to take over the care and maintenance of the line and telephones free of cost, on the understanding that as the line is a Naval one and paid for by Naval Funds, and is a direct means of communication from the Wireless Station to the Senior Naval Officer, that no alterations shall be made to it or any military use made of it without the consent of the Senior Naval Officer.
4.- Recent experiences have shown the necessity of ... General Officer Commanding the Troops, SOUTH CHINA.
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