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The subordinate Civil Servants in the Police and Sanitary Departments whose services could be made available in time of war are now under consideration. It does not seem to me to be necessary that there should be volunteers, but arrangements would be made for them to attend at periods of practical mobilisation so that they could the more easily perform the duties required of them.
I cannot but concur with the G.O.C. that the increase in the defence measures to be carried out by the Royal Engineers should be met by a corresponding increase in the strength of the Corps at the station and I hope that his proposal to add 30 men to the establishment of N.C.O.'s and men of the Submarine Mining Company's may be adopted at an early date.
For reasons similar to those given by Major General Maltby with regard to the Engineer Volunteers, it is not proper to rely on any particular class or branch of Volunteers as laid down in the Defence Scheme being available for the purposes of that Scheme. I am taking various steps (which I shall report to you when they have reached a later stage) to increase the training of the Volunteers in the Colony and in this I am receiving support.
There are many in the community, but it must be borne in mind that Volunteers are drawn either from Government Establishments where work would be increased rather than diminished in war, or from private firms and companies whose business would suffer if a large proportion of their British Employees were withdrawn for a considerable period. This would conflict with the leading principle to be kept in view in the Defence Scheme, viz:- the maintenance of trade throughout war. I propose therefore that when the Scheme for "Hongkong" is next revised, it should assume that only half the then strength of the Volunteers is available at any time. I trust that by then the strength will be largely increased.
5. I have dealt with the question of War Signals in my confidential dispatch of the 4th August last.
I may here mention with reference to paragraph 12 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 340R that the use made of lighthouses (Gap Rock & Waglan) for signalling ships when a Defence Scheme is in operation will be the same as that made of them in ordinary peace time. It could scarcely be construed into an abuse of the lighthouses' neutrality.
6. In paragraph 6 of his letter, the G.O.C. gives his reasons for departing from the Examination made by the Major General Commanding, as recommended in paragraph 25 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 340R.
7. On the question raised in paragraph 7 of Major General Maltby's letter as to the advisability of the immediate closing of the Western Entrance to the Harbour of Hong Kong to ocean-going trade in time of war, I thought it wise to ascertain confidentially the opinion of the leading British Shipping Agents of the Colony. I annex a copy of a letter on the subject to Mr. E.M.Underwood, Chairman of the Committee of the Local Chamber of Commerce and Agent of the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Company at Hongkong. It certainly does not support the view of the Local Defence Committee that the blocking of the Western Entrance of the Harbour in time of war would in any way impede or hamper trade. I do not therefore propose that any alteration should be made in the provision in the Scheme that mine fields should not be laid down until the consent of the Naval Commander-in-Chief or Senior Naval Officer has been obtained, nor do I propose that the arrangements for regulating traffic should include a prohibition to ocean-going steamers to use the Eastern Entrance.
7. I annex a copy of a letter on the subject for our information.
With regard to the 4th paragraph of the communication and the 4th paragraph of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 347R dealing with the provision of a refuge for women and children in the event of war, it is likely that...
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thu suborduate Civil Suvanto ni the Police and Sanitay Departmealo whoje suvia, could be made available in bint of war is now under consideration. If does not seen, to me to be nicepang this there meer Should be. Volunteers but arrary cinents would be made for them to attoo of practita mobilizativac to that they could the hear the duties requited of them.
I cannot but concur with the Q.0.0, thus the wncrease in the
479 defence micaswer to be workers by the Royal Exquicers shout be met by 4 corresponding citrease in the shingh of the Corps of the station and ✓ hurt that his proposed to add 30 men to the stablishment of t. os N.C.d's and men of the Submarine Menuig Company's may be adoptio as ang Emily date.
for casouo Jamilar to those giou, ly Major General Malion with regard to flas Enguicer Volunturs it is not pepe the to rely on an puth Cotables moud of ame branch of Voluciture as laid lower in the Defever schens besig sabailate for the purposes of that Scheint. I am tokung various steps (which I shale report to you when they have reached a later stage) to increase the thing thi of the Volunteers in the Colony and in this and receivuiq suppat
"There hour au ber community, but it must be borne in mind this Volunteers are drawn either from Goverumus Establishmeulo abest work, would be increased rather than dinuiched ai cor, or from. private fame and companies whose basuits would suffer if a large proputiou
of their British Employes love withdrawn for a cousiduable puion, This would conflict with leading principle to be kept in wire is
the Defence Selicus viz:- the maintenance of trade throughoud war. I propose therefors that when the schicine for "Hongkong is next revised
it should assume that only half the then shength of the Volunteers is available at any hint. I husd that by then the shength with be largely
in creared
5. I have dealt with the question of Int War Siquels in
my confidensial dispatch of the 4a Anyue lart.
*
I may hue mention with referencs to paroniph 12 of the Colonial Defence Committees Remarks No 340R Bd the was made of lighthouses (qap Rock & Wagian) for the signalling, ships when an Defence Scheme is in operation will be the same that is made of them in orduiccy peace bunt, $13- the qjoung of information to the public and the harbour authoritico of the arrival of bepels whether marcandits or haval. It could Scarcely be constuck into an abus of the lightheurts neuhality.
6. In paragraph 6 of his lean an 90.0 give his reasons for departing from the Examination lunt aco's the main Wishra Cufraud recommended 'ui paragraph 25 of thu Colonial Defence Committe's Remastão No 340 R.
7. On the question raised in paragraph y of Major Gunst Autoit letter as
to the advisability ui the uitrisk of hade of closing the butan Enhance te ttu Kaidour of Hong Kong to octaurqouig hade al lime of cour & thought it wich to ascutain confidentially, the opinion & the (cadung British Shippuig Aqcuts of the Colony, I annex a copy of a letter on the subject for our M1EAHtwett, Chairman the Committe of the Local Chamber of Commerce and Agens of the Seninsular and Oricusal Steamship Company as Hongkong. It certarily deva not supput the view of the Local Defense Commities that the blocking
In Western Entranet of the outset of ware would in
ind way imped on hamper hade a I do not the four propose time any at Freation should be made in tu provision in the Scheme that Au munt fields should not be laid down until the consound of this Naral Commandu, u'- Chics or Schior Naval officer has been obtanied, nor do I propose this the arrangements for regulating traffic
Mohitition to occan young steamers to use the
letion which I have adipo to the Naval Commandu, in Chic of the subject of the impido attack dealt with in the 4th parepaph of the Colonial Defense Committee's Remarkt No 340 'R' and 'iú the 84 paragraph of Major Gonnal Halious communiation & mt.
should nicluse « bebru Eutauce.
7. Vannex
4
copy of
•
4. with regard to the oft paxapept of the communication. and the operepept of An Colonial Defense Commuiléces Remacks 347 R dating with the provision of a refuge for women and childur it Sceur & mt likely these in the Evind of.
Ly
a coor with a masifiniɛ
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