CO129-291 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [5-6] — Page 408

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed
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COPY.

Head-Quarter House

May 26th, 1899.

401

Dear Sir Henry,

In reply to your private letter of this date, asking my views as to my power of holding the entire valley, Shan Chun (as originally proposed) including the town of Nam tạo: with my present garrison: or whether in the event of its being determined to include the valley, an additional force will be necessary, I reply that my views are as follows. My present garrison is strong enough, though none too strong for the defence of Hong Kong proper. I take it, that it was intended for the defence of Hong Kong, & that this is its primary aim & object.

When complications arose, in the New Territory, & you called on me for military assistance, being otherwise at peace in Hong Kong, I was able to give you that assistance. I am still able to give it & even if it were determined to include the valley of Shan Chun: & to add also the town of Nam tạo (a fresh proposal) I could still do this with my present force whilst there are no complications threatening Hong Kong. But if complications arose, then I must at once call in the troops.

I do not think it was ever contemplated that this large extension of territory should be permanently garrisoned by the present garrison of Hong Kong. What I understood was, the Civil Police would look after & administer it. The Civil Police not being so strong, as they were thought to be, the military were called in, temporarily, (as I understand it) to help them. It is one thing to do this temporarily, & another to do it for good & all. I certainly think that if troops are to be permanently quartered in the various parts of this new territory, then my garrison should be increased.

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COPY. Head-Quarter House May 26th, 1899. 401 Dear Sir Henry, In reply to your private letter of this date, asking my views as to my power of holding the entire valley, Shan Chun (as originally proposed) including the town of Nam tạo: with my present garrison: or whether in the event of its being determined to include the valley, an additional force will be necessary, I reply that my views are as follows. My present garrison is strong enough, though none too strong for the defence of Hong Kong proper. I take it, that it was intended for the defence of Hong Kong, & that this is its primary aim & object. When complications arose, in the New Territory, & you called on me for military assistance, being otherwise at peace in Hong Kong, I was able to give you that assistance. I am still able to give it & even if it were determined to include the valley of Shan Chun: & to add also the town of Nam tạo (a fresh proposal) I could still do this with my present force whilst there are no complications threatening Hong Kong. But if complications arose, then I must at once call in the troops. I do not think it was ever contemplated that this large extension of territory should be permanently garrisoned by the present garrison of Hong Kong. What I understood was, the Civil Police would look after & administer it. The Civil Police not being so strong, as they were thought to be, the military were called in, temporarily, (as I understand it) to help them. It is one thing to do this temporarily, & another to do it for good & all. I certainly think that if troops are to be permanently quartered in the various parts of this new territory, then my garrison should be increased. Page 3 Page 3 Page 3 i 3 11 becomes i : 2 was removed as it is not necessary for the correct representation of the text. The original text has been formatted into proper paragraphs and minor corrections have been made to spacing and punctuation. The page numbering lines have been preserved as per the instructions.
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i 3 11 COPY. Re.... Head-Quarter House May 26th.1899. 401 Dear Sir Henry In reply to your private letter of this date, asking my views as to my power of holding the entire valley, Shan Chun (as originally proposed) including the town of Nam tạo: with my present garrison: or whether in the event of its being determined to include the valley, an additional force will be necessary, I reply that my views are as follows. ky present garrison is strong enough, though none too strong for the defence of HongKong proper. I take it, that it was intended for the defence of HongKong, & that this is its primary aim & object. When complications arose, in the New Territory,& you called on me for military assistance, being otherwise at peace in HongKong. Iwas able to give you that assistance. I am still able to give it & even if it were determined to include the valley of Shan Chun: & to addalso the town of Nam tạo (a fresh proposal ) I could still do this with my present force whilst there are no complications threatening HongKong. But if complications arose, then i must at once call in the troops. I do not think it was ever contemplated that this large extension of territory should be permanently garrisoned by the present garrison of HongKong. What I understood was, the Civil Police would look after & administer it. The Civil that Police not being so strong, as they were thought to be, the military were called in, temporarily,( as I understand it ) to help them. It is one thing to do this temporarily, & another to do it for good à all. I certainly think that if troops are to be permanently quartered in the various parts of this new territory, then my garrison should be increased. But i : 2 •
2026-05-31 02:00:44 · Baseline
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COPY.

Re....

Head-Quarter House

May 26th.1899.

401

Dear Sir Henry

In reply to your private letter of this date, asking my views as to my power of holding the entire valley, Shan Chun (as originally proposed) including the town of Nam tạo: with my present garrison: or whether in the event of its being determined to include the valley, an additional force will be necessary, I reply that my views are as follows. ky present garrison is strong enough, though none too strong for the defence of HongKong proper. I take it, that it was intended for the defence of HongKong, & that this is its primary aim & object.

When complications arose, in the New Territory,& you called

on me for military assistance, being otherwise at peace in HongKong. Iwas able to give you that assistance. I am still able to give it & even if it were determined to include the valley of Shan Chun: & to addalso the town of Nam tạo (a fresh proposal ) I could still do this with my present force whilst there are no complications threatening HongKong. But if complications arose, then i must at once call in the troops.

I do not think it was ever contemplated that this large extension of territory should be permanently garrisoned by the present garrison of HongKong. What I understood was, the Civil Police would look after & administer it. The Civil

that

Police not being so strong, as they were thought to be, the military were called in, temporarily,( as I understand it ) to help them. It is one thing to do this temporarily, & another to do it for good à all. I certainly think that if troops are to be permanently quartered in the various parts of this new territory, then my garrison should be increased.

But

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2

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