CO882-(1-2) — Page 221

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

and that it would besides be most unfair to deprive the troops of their new barrack.

"The navy," he observes, "should accommodate themselves with as small an extent of sea-front as possible, and not object to have store-buildings a few yards from the sea merely to save them- selves a little extra labour on the few occasions in the year they will in all probability be called on to refit from their store-houses." On the other hand, if it be decided that the island is to have no internal defences, in that case Major Aldrich would not object, in a military point of view, to the appropriation of Middle Stores for naval purposes.

Navy Bay, contemplated by Sir H. Pottinger as the site of the naval establishment, is declared by Major Aldrich to be objec- tionable on account of its extreme unhealthiness, and of the great expense which it would be necessary to incur for the erection of works of defence.

In opposition to the opinion of Sir W. Parker, Major Aldrich pronounces Lye-mun Bay (at the eastern extremity of Hong Kong, nearly facing the southernmost extremity of the mainland of China, from which it is separated by a channel 500 yards broad) to be the best position for a large naval yard. Sir William Parker's objection to this site is chiefly grounded on a supposition of the practicability of erecting batteries on the Chinese main- land; to which Major Aldrich replies, 1st. That the Government would never of course allow the Chinese to erect such batteries themselves, or to cede the territory to any foreign Power for such a purpose; and 2ndly. That no enemy, however powerful, would, in the exercise of sound judgment, attempt to land a siege equip- ment on the Chinese side under the fire of our guns.

Major Aldrich then proceeds to assign eleven distinct reasons descriptive of the local superiority of Lye-mun Bay over every other position for the site of a dock-yard. The principal advan- tages assigned to it are, that the works required for its defence would be of greater strength and cost less than similar necessary works elsewhere; that the anchorage is good, and that the site, from its rocky bed, promises to be healthy. It does not appear whether these observations of Major Aldrich have been communi- cated to Sir William Parker.

Under the head of South external defences Major Aldrich observes, that he abstains from proposing the erection of any defences on the south side of the island, not only on account of but the many bays which it presents for the landing of an enemy, because that side of the island is not occupied.

Upon the general question Lord Saltoun has given it as his Lord Saltoun's opinion, that it is impossible to build anything like a fortress Minute. July 31. that can be of use to the town of Victoria; that Major Aldrich's plan is the best that can be adopted for maintaining a certain defence, and that had it been adopted at once, it would have given immediate barracks for the troops, 700 of whom, expected in October, will be without any until a decision is received from home.

In communicating Major Aldrich's first Report to Sir Henry Pottinger, Lord Saltoun called his attention to the propriety of warning the owners of private properties situate within the limits of the proposed defences or ordnance ground, that they will pro- bably be required to surrender their properties upon their being

duly indemnified for their outlays; and Sir Henry Pottinger lost Mr. R. Woos nai,

no time in warning the parties, eight in number, accordingly, of July 22.

the question which had thus arisen, and the final settlement of which would depend on the approval or disapproval of Major Aldrich's plans.

Sir H. Pottinger to Lord Saltoun,

July 30.

Sir H. Pottinger to Lord Stanley, July 17.

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Upon that officer's second report, Sir Henry Pottinger has, however, informed Lord Saltoun, that it has made no change in his views, but has; on the contrary, fully confirmed them; because the

very details entered into by that officer, tend to shew that

those views are correct.

Admitting, as Sir Henry Pottinger had already done, that Major Aldrich's plan had its advantages, he, by no means, intended to state that he thought it the best that might be devised. There are many parts of the report from which he must totally differ. It has been incorrectly assumed, that he does not consider any internal defence to be requisite; had Major Aldrich said possible, Sir Henry might, perhaps, have coincided with him. Even should the Government order Major Aldrich's plans to be carried into execution, Sir Henry trusts that he will not be at Hong Kong to see them acted on."

Addressing Lord Stanley on the same subject, Sir Henry Pottinger observes, "Carrying out those plans will interfere very much with the increase and prosperity of Hong Kong (Victoria), as an emporium of trade, which was, I believe, the sole, or, at least, the chief object in securing its cession.

"The uncertainty which must now exist, as to the views and eventual commands of Her Majesty's Government, will, I have little doubt, retard the progress of colonization, until the question which has arisen shall have been finally disposed of.

"I may conclude by observing, that I estimate that about one-fourth of the available ground on this side of the island (but not including the extensive flats that may, at a considerable expense, be hereafter reclaimed from the harbour), has been appro- priated; and that, by a rough calculation, I should say, that it alone ought hereafter to yield an annual revenue of 8,000l. to 10,000/. sterling."

Again, addressing Lord Stanley. Sir Henry Pottinger states his "unbiassed conviction, that giving effect either to Major Aldrich's plan, as relates to land defences, or that proposed by the navy for a naval location, and by which latter, dock-yards. store-houses, coal wharves, forges, and all the other noisy and dirty apparatus connected with ship-building and repairing, will be fixed in the very centre of the city of Victoria, must, in every point of view, such as the comfort, cleanliness, ventilation, recre- ation of the inhabitants, &c., tend materially to injure the colony, if it does not altogether put a stop to its becoming the resort of our merchants, some of whom have already sent orders to coun termand the houses they were about to build." Under such cir- cumstances, Sir Henry Pottinger solicits a speedy and final decision on the points at issue.

It is now proposed to place in juxta position, all the opinions which have been delivered by various officers, and communicated to Lord Stanley, relating to the medical topography of Hong Kong

Writing, in August, 1842, to Lord Ellenborough, on this subject, Sir Hugh Gough states, "I am persuaded that the north side of the Island of Hong Kong, will never be healthy during the hot and wet season (that is from about the middle of June to the middle of September) for Europeans; and as, on account of the public offices, shipping, and population on that side, some troops must be left there, the Government would find a detachment of Ceylon Rifles, or perhaps a second battalion of that corps, of essential service for the duties of Hong Kong; and I conceive, that the situation would be neither disagreeable nor unhealthy to the Malay. On the southern side of the island being, although

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