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am not aware that anything more important has ever been the subject of discussion in the Chamber of Commerce than the defences of the solony of Hongkong. Its interests are far greater than those of other colonies of vastly greater territorial extent(hear, hoar)-and few places in the world have collected round them so much wealth and so great Imperial in- terests as the colony of Hongkong. (Hear, hear). Its defences have from time to time, not only recently, been the subject of consideration and discussion. Io looking through some papers the other day, I came across an old and very tattered looking one. It is dated 1865, and is therefore 20 years old, and it is a plan that had 1, ... de for forts in the Lyeemoon Pass and to the westward of the bar- bour which have not yet been made. So that it is not merely rasantly that attention has been drawn to this subject, and not simply because we are informed we are on the eve of grave events, and that Her Gracious Majesty has had to appeal to her Parliament on a ergency for additional forces for the defence of the empire. It is not on that account, but it has long been a subject of discussion and difference. Engineer officers have differed materially on what the colony requires, and in my own experience I have known several plans begun, endod, re-commenced, and again left off. There has been more timo lost, and more money squandered by these changes of opinion on the part of professional mon on the defences of the colony than would have sufficed to make it secure. The discussion in the Chamber of Commerce, I am quite sure, had nothing of a personal character in it; it was altogether of a public character. Your Ex- cellency has nothing to fear from discussion, whatever may occur in this colony. We know you are true to its interests, and therefore if strong expressions are used, it is not with refor. ence to persons, but things. We want to see the colony secure; we want, to see an in- dependent line of telegraph direct between this port and the nearest British settlement-Sing- apore. It is our duty, not to ourselves alone, but to Imperial interests to press this matter. ! We who are here on the spot are better informed as to what is required than those who are at a distance. We should inform thera that there are interests which may be lost sight of in the greater importance to them of more local events. · With regard to the cost of the defences, and with regard also to the large sum of money which will be necessary for a special telegraphic cable between this and Singapore, the resources of the colony are not such as to admit of a great call upon its revenue. But these are Imperial interests, and if they are to be urged, they ought to be urged as Imperial, and not as local in- terests. I bave no doubt, however, that were we in the extremity of trouble, and if defences were necessary, and expenditure in connection with them to be undertaken by this colony, the moans would be obtained, if not through the revenue, through some other means, to đó what! was necessary. I am glad that this discussion has taken place; I think it will have the effect of letting the people who are responsible for the proper protection of the colony know that there aro people in the colony who are alive to the deficiencies of its defences, and who will not rest until those deficiencies have been overcome.
HIS EXCELLENCY-Hon. Gentlemen of the Legislative Council, I am very glad indeed that my hon. friend who so worthily represents in this Connell the Chamber of Commere, has brought forward this most important resolution; and I thank hita and I thank the two hon. mem- bors who supported him for the way in which they have spoken of myself and of the Executive of this colony. I hope this rosolution will be carried unanimously. As the hon. member said, it is owing to my exertions that the unofficial element in this Council was increased from two to five, and that the Chamber of Commerce was invited to nominate its own representative. I am sure from the able speeches my hon. friend has made on this and other occasions and from his high cha- racter and position, that the Chamber of Com- msres could not have made a better choice. (Hear, hear.) In fact I look upon my hon. friend as a living, and I am happy to say, flourishing, proof of the success of my policy. I said just now that I hoped this resolution will be passed unanimously, and I said so because it will give great strength to recommendations I have already made on the same subject
to Her Majesty's Government. The fact is. gentlemon, that a truly paternal Governor on This as on other occasions has anticipated the wishes of his children. A great English statesman some years ago-I refer to Sir Robert Pel-said it was the first duty of a statesman to be a little but not too much in advance of the people over whom he ruled. Now, it can be proved by docu- mentary evidence that I have been in this ques- tion of defence twelve months at least in advance, not of the gentlemen to whom my hon. friend ou my left (Hon. W. Keswick) referred just now as having given special attention to the sub- ject, but of general opinion in this community. I can only say that when I came here there was no general agitation on the subject of defences, and it was I who first raised the question with the. Imperial Government. I have pre- pared a minute showing exactly what has been done, and quoting from various documents, and with the permission of the Couacil I will now read that minuto :--
"I arrived at Hongkong on March 30, 1883; aud six weeks afterwards, after careful study of the subject, I opened the question of the Defences of this Colony by an elaborate despatch to the Secretary of State (Lord Derby), dated May 12, 1883. In that Despatch, after outer- ing fully into details, I concluded as follows: "--- I submit that your Lordship should move the Wor Office to prepara a full and final plan for the defences of Hongkong, and that such plan should be submitted by Her Majesty's Government to both the Governor and the General Commanding the troops, with instruc- tions to use all the authority and influence of their respective offices in assisting in carrying it into exe cution. The Major-General Commanding has read
this despatch, and authorises me to state that he cor- j dially agrees with my views in every respect. He fully concurs as to the urgent necessity of the War Office finally deciding on a complete plan of defence, and of that plan being carried into execution without unavoidable delay.
In that phrase "full and final plan," I referred to those varions and conflicting schemes to which my hon. friend alluded just now. I knew, of course, various engineer officers had proposed various plans, but none had been adopted, and the great thing was that a full and final plan should be decided upou
"After several detailed statements and argu- ments, I proceeded as follows:--
It has been frequently shown that Hongkong nom mands our Trade Routes in the Far East; that ship- ping to the amount of above five millions of tons la larger tonnage than that which entered the port of London 10 years ago) yearly enters this port; and that it is of paramount importance not to suffer any uation, or any possible confederacy of nations, to de- stroy or leasen the prestige and influence of Groat Britain with China and Japan, those rich and vast countries which have in all human probability a great future before them in the history of the world.
to
"Such, honourable gentlemen, was the language in which I opened the question of our defences just six works after my first arrival here. And I have followed up this opening by a long series of official despatches and (what has proved still. more effective) of private letters to my personal friends among English statesmen and among i the chief military authorities at the War Office. I cannot, of course, publish correspondenes much of which is of a confidential character; but I am ready to show it to any member of this Council. I know that you, honourable gentle- men, like myself, deprecate any irresponsible chatter (as oue of you has truly called it), which could have no other result but to point out any weak point in the armour of our country our possible enemies-to all who fear or who envy the greatness of England. A perusal of my correspondence on this subject will show that what has been done, and is doing, for the defences of this colony, is due mainly to my constant and persistent representations, aided, of course, by General Sargent, and by the other naval and military authorities. I am in cordial co-operation with Admiral Sir W. Dowell, and with General Cameron, who possess the en- tire confidence of the Admiralty and of the War Office; and this community can place full reliance on their prudence and energy. Sir W. Dowell is now temporarily absent in the execution of measures which, if they could be divulged, would be regarded by all of you as the best calculated alike for the protection of our trade and of English interests generally in this quarter of the globe, and also for the protection of Hongkong. The Admiral has authorised ma to state, moreover, that there will remain permanently in this harbour the formidable ironclad Wivern -now fally manned and equipped--and five
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