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telegram.
130
6.
I have already expressed to the General Officer Commanding my strong opinion that, in the present juncture
the when men are required urgently by His Majesty's Government, most effective way in which this Colony can assist is by making larger demands on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps and Hongkong Volunteer Reserve for the defence of the Colony, thereby releasing more men from the regular garrison for active service. Major-
and -General Ventris has given this subject his earnest sympathetic consideration and the reduction by half a battalion of Indian troops is a step in that direction which he recommended, and, as I believe, would have recommended a considerable time ago if it had not been for the rebellion and unrest in China. I am now in comunication with him as to what his requirements from the Heng ong Volunteer Corps and Hongkong Volunteer Reserve would be if he can see his way to recommend a further reduction of une garrison; and as to whether he can recommend such a requation as would enable him to say that the services of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps and Hongkong Volunteer Reserve are necessary for local defence purposes. I shall inform you of the result.
7.
If you concur generally in the opinions I have expressed I shall be obliged if you will authorise me by telegraph as soon as possible, to introduce the necessary legislation for compulsory service for local defence. If the General Officer Commanding arrives at the conclusion that he can recommend a further considerable reduction of the garrison, and the War Office sanction such reduction, then the constitution of a board to decide whether individuals can be spared from mercan- -tile and professional firms for military service outside the Colony will probably be necessary and the difficulty which has arisen will be solved.
un-
8.