CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 416

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HONG KONG DEFENCE PLAN.

SECTION I

TOP SECRET

HONG KONG A NEW TERRTIURIES.

GENERAL.

Please note that this

CO 537/1260

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

restrictions Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet

s supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyrigh

HONG KONG ISLAND is situate to the Eastward of the entrance to the CANTON RIVER and extends from position 22 11 to 22" 18 N and from 174 6 to 114 16 E. Its oxtremo length from N.E. to S., is 11 miles end its breath varies from 2 to 5 miles, the total area is 30 square miles.

A narrow channel separ tea it from the mainland - HONG KONG ROADS or Western ontrance betweeл VICTORIA HONG KONG and KOWLOON point is 1 mile in width and the LEI U MUN Channel, the Eastern entrance is 1/4 mile wide. To the North ormosite VICTORIA is the KOWLOON PENINSULA. Further to the North extends the NEW TERRITORIES covering an area of 290 square milos.

COAST AND LANDING BEACHES.

The coast of the Colony is greatly indented with bays, covos and inlets. The largest Bays are MIRS DAY and DEEP WATER BAY at the Eastern ad Western exkunsties of the NEPTORIES sector. It is fronted by mumerous islands and inlets of which LITAU lying due fest has an area greater than HONG KONG.

Nearly all of these hays could be used for landing parties.

Host of the coast of both the mainland and the islands is rocky and precipitous; it consists of steep slopes with cliffs rising at or just behind the waters oåge. Pocket aches occupy the heads of many coves and bays, while the inland terrain is made up of steep irregular hills and mountaino. The highest peaks are TAI HOU SHAN 3,000 ft. which forms part of the mountain range extending through the KWANGTUNG & KWANSI Provinces, and VICTORIA PEAK HONG KONG Island 1,800 ft. The underwater gradient is comparatively steep with a fift. fathan curve usually lying from 5 to 7 miles off share.

COMMUNICATIONS.

ROADS.

The roads within the Colony are accurately shown on the Hind 1015- 1/80,000 with the exception of perhaps a few amendments. Considerable effort has been made to keep the roads in good repair but certain outlying ones on the Mainland have deteriorated and should now be regarded as limited all woather only.

The Island of HONG KONG is served by an all weather road which encircles the Island while the principal roads in the NEW TERRITORIES are from FANLING through TAIPO, SHATIN to KOWLOON and FANLING, CASTLE FEAR, TSUN WAN and KOWLOON.

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