[This Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government.]
523
SECRET.
No. 208 M,
Lomas is prepared to command in part 9 his despatch, assuming the trustees are the subscribers consider that they bound by resolution 3 A do not see Hica's lady way to adopt Mr Ormsby's suggestion which on other grounds have seemed preferable, to regin at the Shank won and CRE 24 a & mee
Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. January 10, 1900.
# HONG KONG.
## Proposed Coast Road.
### Memorandum by the Colonial Defence Committee.
C.O. No.29823
THE Colonial Office have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 27th September, 1899, forwarding correspondence on the subject of a road round the island on which it has been proposed to expend part of the funds subscribed for a Memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee in 1897.
The Governor's despatch and three of the inclosures, viz.: a letter from Major-General Black, dated the 2nd December, 1898, and Minutes by Major-General Gascoigne, dated the 17th January and 22nd September, 1899, are printed as an Appendix to this Memorandum.
2. The question referred to the Committee is whether that part of an 18-foot road round the island, which the Jubilee Committee desire to make and for which they claim that subscriptions were given, is objectionable from a military point of view. The part of the road in question follows the coast line from Kennedy Town near Belcher's round Mount Davis and round the head of Sandy, Taihowan, and Waterfall Bays to the Head of Kellet Bay.
3. Major-General Black considered that whereas at present, owing to the steep and rugged nature of the slopes of Mount Davis between Sandy Bay and Kennedy Town, no formed body of men could move along the coast between these places at night, the construction of the proposed road would make such movement possible and give an enemy an easier method of access to the town of Victoria. Major-General Gascoigne supported this view, but said in his second Minute on the subject that if the road would satisfy a great and pressing need for the Colony generally, he would not consider the military objections to be so imperative as to necessitate his urgent protest against it.
Other arguments have been advanced in favour of the road round the island being commenced by the construction of its eastern section, but these need not be considered as they are not based on military considerations, and as the Governor reports that, apart from military considerations, he sees no reason why the road should not be first made in accordance with the Resolution of the Jubilee Committee, especially as the Government is bound to continue the road (though not within any specified time) until its completion round the island.
4. The proposed western part of the new road lies mainly in No. II Section of the Defence. For the mobile defence of this section the Defence Scheme provides 120 infantry and 40 artillery, manning 2--7-pr. R.M.L, and 3--3-pc. Q.F. guns, whose duties are to oppose in the first instance an attempted landing of troops in
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Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. January 10, 1900.
HONG KONG.
Proposed Coast Road.
Memorandum by the Colonial Defence Committee.
C.O. No. 29823.
THE Colonial Office have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 27th September, 1899, forwarding correspondence on the subject of a road round the island on which it has been proposed to expend part of the funds subscribed for a Memorial of Her Majesty's Jubilee in 1897.
The Governor's despatch and three of the inclosures, viz.: a letter from Major- General Black, dated the 2nd December, 1898, and Minutes by Major-General Gascoigne, dated the 17th January and 22nd September, 1899, are printed as an Appendix to this Memorandum.
2. The question referred to the Committee is whether that part of an 18-foot road round the island, which the Jubilee Committee desire to inake and for which they claim that subscriptions were given, is objectionable from a military point of view. The part of the road in question follows the coast line from Kennedy Town near Belebers round Mount Davis and round the head of Sandy, Taihowan, and Waterfali Bays to the Head of Kellet Bay.
3. Major-General Black considered that whereas at present, owing to the steep and rugged nature of the slopes of Mount Davis between Sandy Bay and Kennedy Town, no formed body of men" could move along the coast between these places at night, the construction of the proposed road would make such movement possible and give an enemy an easier method of access to the town of Victoria. Major-General Gascoigne supported this view, but said in his second Minute on the subject that if the road would satisfy a great and pressing need for the Colony generally, he would not consider the military objections to be so imperative as to necessitate his urgent protest against it.
Other arguments have been advanced in favour of the road round the island being commenced by the construction of its eastern section, but these need not bo considered as they are not based on military considerations, and as the Governor ports that, apart from military considerations, he sees no reason why the road should not he first made in accordance with the Resolution of the Jubilee Committee, especially as the Government is bound to continue the road (though not within any specified time) until its completion round the island.
4. The proposed western part of the new road lies mainly in No. II Section of the Defence. For the mobile defence of this section the Defence Scheme provides 120 infantry and 40 artillery, manning 2--7-pr. R.M.L, and 3--3-pc. Q.F. guns, Whose duties are to oppose in the first instance an attempted landing of troops in
[1048]
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