CO129-401 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [5-6] — Page 16

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COPY.

CONFIDENTIAL.

Cone. 2.

No./.

Head Quarter■}

South China Command,

REC

C.O

19366

RECE 7 JUN 13:

Hongkong, 22nd. March, 1912. 15

Your Excelleney,

In reply to your Confidential letter No. 1408/ 1910 dated 20th. March, 1912, I do not think a plan is necessary.

The arests of the hills on the Mainland and Island which command

the water area of the inner harbour constitute the minimum line

which must be defended, and therefore any point on the Mainland

South of the hill tops and between Wong Uk and the Lyemin Pass,

and any point on the Island North of the hill tops and between

the Eastern end of Sulphur Channel and the West end of Lyemun Pass may be regarded as being a protected point to the fullest extent that the existing Garrison is capable of protecting any point in

the Colony.

On the other hand if the commercial station is prepared to close down in war time without demur when orderd to do

o, and such closing down implies that the station will be use- -less to an enemy, and will expect no defence of any kind I see no reason why the station should not be established at any point whatsoever on the South shore of the island. Suggest advisabili- -ty of referring the matter to the Commodore also for Naval views on

the subject.

-

I have etc.,

(8d.) C. A. Anderson,

Major-General,

Commanding the Troops on South China.

His Excellency

The Officer Administering the Government,

Hongkong.