30/408 M.0.-5.
(7038).
$12:-
WAR OFFICE,
LONDON, S.W.,
C. O.
8369
94
Po 12 MAR 08
February 27th, 1903.
I am commanded by the Army Council to inform you that a letter has been received from the General Officer Commanding the troops in South China enquiring whether it is desired that he should continue to render quarterly returns of arms and munitions of war exported from the colony of Hong Kong.
2. As large quantities of arms and ammunition are, it is believed, shipped direct from Japanese and European ports to China without transhipment at Hong Kong, and as the Chinese arsenals are capable of producing munitions of war to a considerable extent, the quarterly return of arms exported from Hong Kong gives no indication of the amount of war matériel in China, and would therefore seem to be valueless.
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
3.