CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3] — Page 175

ofer

establishment of such a Board as is referred to in their

resolutions.

I recognised that in the circumstances it was

desirable to follow the advice of Un-official Members in this

matter and I accordingly telegraphed to you in terms of my

cypher telegram of the 2nd. instant. I explained to the

Un-official Members that the ultimate decision on the findings

of the Board would rest with the Governor and that no such

certificates as are referred to in the third of their

resolutions could be issued except by your express sanction.

3.

I am still of opinion that the best way of dealing with this matter is by a further reduction of the regular garrison and wider use of the Volunteers as suggested 12d52 in my Confidential despatch of the 22nd. ultimo. The

establishment of the proposed Board will, however, not prejudice that scheme in the event of the General Officer

Commanding seeing his way hereafter to modifying his objection

for I do not think that the number of men who may be released

through the findings of the proposed Board, if established,

will be considerable.

a

and

In anticipation of the possibility of a further

reduction of the garrison, I am anxious now to impose compulsory

service for local defence; that is to say to compel British

subjects, who are physically fit and whose services may be required, to join the Hongkong Volunteer Corps or Hongkong Volunteer Reserve. It is true that at present since the begin-

ning of 1915 all British subjects of Europem race, with the exception of perhaps three or four individuals, are and have been serving in those forces; but the numbers of those forces

could be increased by drawing further on those of the so called Portuguese community who are British subjects, and possibly

on