Any further communication on this
bject should be addressed to-
The Under Secretary of State,
War Office,
London, S. W.,
and the following number quoted.
Yong Kong 5
3229
96.
Sir,
Copy.
SECRET.
330
War Office,
**
London, S.W.
18th Deceber 1896.
I am directed by the Secretary of State for War to trans-
mit for the information of the Marquess of Salisbury, a copy of
a secret Memorandum (No.85 M) by the Colonial Defence Committee
on the subject of an extension of the boundaries of the Colony
of Hong Kong.
With reference thereto, I am to inform you that Lord Lans-
downe is in cordial agreement with the conclusion arrived at by
the Committee, and that he desires to draw the special attention
of Lord Salisbury to the insonvenience and danger involved in
the divided ownership of the territorial waters of the Lyenun
Pass.
Under existing circumstances the vessels of a Power at war
with us might anchor in Chinese waters in dangerous proximity
to our defences, and we could not dislodge them, or even complete
our submarine mining defence, without committing what would be
practically a violation of Chinese territory.
This evil would be removed by the proposed extension of
the boundaries of the Colony, and Lord Lansdowne would strongly
urge upon Lord Salisbury the expediency of initiating as soon
as possible the diplomatic action necessary to secure this
result.
Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office.
I have,
&c. &c.
(Sd)
Arthur L.Haliburton.
PUBLIC RECORD, OFFICE
C.O.587
Reference :-
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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