CO537-(33-34) — Page 929

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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