ENCLOSURE 6.
Lands.
No. 1811/1 -X.
C. O P Y.
ongkong.
Acquisition of Land at
Devil's Peak.
C.0
75
: 10845
From
The General Officer Commanding Troops in China,
To
His Excellency
The Sovernor of Hongkong.
Your Excellency,
Headquarters,
Hongkong, 19th. January, 1901.
I have the honour to forward herewith a
copy of a letter proposed to be forwarded to the Under Secretary of State for War, asking him to create a Military Reserve over the land mentioned therein.
2.
The Devil's Peak Peninsula will, in the
course of a few years, become the most important tactical point in the defence of this Colony. Two powerful batteries are now being constructed on this site, which, though they effectually prevent the forcing of the sea defences, are themselves open to attack from the land side, and, being so far away from the central positions, require special protection.
3.
Your Excellency will see from the map of the New Territory, that the Devil's Peak Peninsula can be ap- proached, from Troops landed at Junk Bay, Port Shelter or Tolo Harbour, Recognising this, we propose to locate adequate defences on the land side of the batteries, which will necessarily be ac- companied by quarters for Troops, water supply, and exercising grounds, and it is now sought to create a Military Reserve so that no new rights of ownership may interfere with the tactical value of the position.
4.
Your Excellency will probably appreciate
that the taking of these two batteries by an enemy, would mean the loss of the Colony to the British Nation.
I have etc.,
(sa.) W.. J. Gascoigne,
Major-General, Commanding Troops in China.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.