JOINT MEMORANDUM
by
H.E. the Governor and Commander in-Chief, Hongkong.
The Commander-in-Chief, China Station.
The General Officer Commanding, China Command.
on the subject of
DEFENCE OF HONGKONG AGAINST ATTACK BY AN OVERSEAS ENEMY.
1.
2.
The importance of Hongkong,both commercially and strategically, necessitates the place being made
as secure as possible against oversea attack. Moreover,
the strategical value of the Singapore Base depends
to a great extent on the maintenance of Hongkong.
This being so we have recently examined closely,
on the spot, the question of the defence of the place,
under actually existing conditions, against an attack by an enemy from overseas, and find that,
(a) The Naval Forces, which could operate in the
defence, are not strong enough to prevent an expedition
being launched in such force and in such time as
would probably ensure the capture of the whole Colony
before relief could arrive.
(b) The existing Military Garrison, together
with such additions to it as could be expected in the emergency, though strong enough to have a fair
prospect of defending the Island of Hongkong only, for
the requisite time, could not hold the Mainland. Any
attempt by it to carry out more than delaying action
on the mainland, would probably result in the loss
of the whole Colony, including the Island of Hongkong
without any compensating advantage.
The retention of the Island alone, though it
would not enable the British fleet to use the place
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.