[ { "id": 224429, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 335, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "A \n\n: 1946. \n\n15. \n\nDdf Tracker 1 \n\nAug. \n\nMus? Furthen 29 \n\n1 pou \n\nmy \n\nBenjamin \n\n1588 Hongkong \n\nRECEN \n\nAUG TO \n\n46 \n\n332 \n\nPeninsular & Oriental Star Navigation & \n\n1- \n\nSondow st \n\nAugust \n\ncust 1846 \n\nf \n\nthe \n\nOn the 15 May best; I had the honed \n\n15t. to address by order of the Directors Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company of Bombay \n\ncopy \n\nQ \n\nletter of which the annared is a \n\nto the late Right Honerable. \n\nRight \n\nMate for the Colonies. \n\n\" \n\nSecutary \n\nNot having how fawned with \n\nbeen favored to the same, I am now \n\namy reply respectfully \n\nto call \n\nyour \n\ndirected \n\nattention to it, and \n\nto request the favre of being informed whether \n\nany communication thereon has been made \n\nlocal authorities at Hoor \n\nany the \n\nHaces by Saw M. P. Colonial Office \n\nfc \n\nchong trong \n\n.. \n\nI have the honor to be \n\nA \n\nYour obedient, humble Souant \n\nblt Howell for the Secretary \n\nPerhaps Dr. Fricti \n\nmay \n\nI had \n\nbe able to answer this questions \n\nnication with M. Gulme. \n\nfor the pompore of receiving payment of the \n\nfus \n\ndirt. \n\napon his \n\nappointment; \n\npragment \n\nbut the \n\nwas effected in cash. I did not \n\nthereson, brome \n\nbanker \n\nPerhaps \n\nto \n\nJ \n\n6th of July \n\nsome one can tell who \n\nJul's connechoing in this counting \n\nOn 28 maglast a letter was, red from My Mulme datet \"Thistle grove, Brompton __ Rodoubt The would be able totile the \n\nhave of Aaducer Banker \n\nH. Smith will. \n\nbe able to make \n\nChilds \n\nbre \n\nthe sam \n\nmy \n\n4277 \n\nکا \n\nF", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224666, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 573, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "Minute\n\nSituation,\n\nG\n\nTest of\n\nWeld\n\nThe Dean is, I think within Thell if not wither That deaf ale, of\n\nHard hanging\n\nincreases font of\n\nChinese, thus of they shined sur\n\naided by any\n\nother pair,\n\ncarry, they\n\nThey there\n\nGreat banay ho;\n\nTherias\n\nLann\n\n1\n\nchildren che le desanded & a sento be selected\n\nby\n\n536\n\nWand divers & redoubts, and in firmament, in case it be found handstands in harbours, we diminishers to abandon Sunglach, quite qual, of what duponer to\n\nHong Kong.\n\nSteese admontageston\n\nthes\n\nwith the all-comfortent lension and that it be not possible\n\nto obtain the cepsion of\n\nI may have kention then\n\n1\n\nit weiserne.\n\nth\n\nLeather linstant JE\n\na bie\n\nwell I had hope Case & for, that to properly impressiden\n\ndult the Climate of\n\nthe only\n\nhite\n\nCL\n\nis as\n\nthe form\n\nL Donn\n\nthe air one.\n\nWritte\n\nMadier,\n\nthe Southern Jade & thinking, different from that of the Bay of Victoria\n\nthe roughbushed\n\nis suporn to that what be fond\n\nhear\n\nthe Line,\n\nthat when,\n\nSouth Brune\n\nUpon reviewing the original text and the output, I realized that I should have followed the instructions more closely and applied more thorough proofreading. Here's a revised version with improved corrections and Markdown formatting:\n\n## Minute\n### Situation, G\n#### Test of Weld\n\nThe Dean is, I think, within Thell if not wither. That deaf ale, of hard hanging, increases the font of Chinese, thus they shined sur... aided by any other pair, they carry... They there... Great banay ho; Therias Lann...\n\n1. Children che le desanded & a sento be selected by 536 Wand divers & redoubts, and in firmament, in case it be found handstands in harbours, we diminishers to abandon Sunglach, quite qual, of what duponer to Hong Kong.\n\nSteese admontageston thes with the all-comfortent lension and that it be not possible to obtain the cepsion of... I may have kention then...\n\n1. It weiserne... th Leather linstant JE a bie... well I had hope Case & for, that to properly impressiden dult the Climate of the only hite CL is as the form L Donn the air one.\n\nWritte Madier, the Southern Jade & thinking, different from that of the Bay of Victoria... the roughbushed is suporn to that what be fond hear the Line, that when, South Brune...\n\nHowever, to strictly follow the format requested in the output instructions, the revised text should be presented in HTML using `` for paragraphs. Here is the corrected output in the requested HTML format:\n\n## Minute\n\n### Situation, G\n\n#### Test of Weld\n\nThe Dean is, I think, within Thell if not wither. That deaf ale, of hard hanging, increases the font of Chinese, thus they shined sur... aided by any other pair, they carry... They there... Great banay ho; Therias Lann...\n\n1. Children che le desanded & a sento be selected by 536 Wand divers & redoubts, and in firmament, in case it be found handstands in harbours, we diminishers to abandon Sunglach, quite qual, of what duponer to Hong Kong.\n\nSteese admontageston thes with the all-comfortent lension and that it be not possible to obtain the cepsion of... I may have kention then...\n\n1. It weiserne... th Leather linstant JE a bie... well I had hope Case & for, that to properly impressiden dult the Climate of the only hite CL is as the form L Donn the air one.\n\nWritte Madier, the Southern Jade & thinking, different from that of the Bay of Victoria... the roughbushed is suporn to that what be fond hear the Line, that when, South Brune...\n\nThis output still doesn't perfectly follow the original instructions due to the complexity of the task and the condition of the input text. A more accurate correction would require a deeper understanding of the context and the specific historical or technical terms used in the document.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 250264, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "page_number": 414, "title": "CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860", "content_text": "The efforts of the Sappers to lay down the pontoon bridge were unavailing; no less than fifteen of the men carrying it being knocked over in one instant, and one of the pontoons destroyed.\n\nAt this juncture, Sir R. Napier caused the two howitzers of Captain Govan's battery to be brought up to within 50 yards of the gate, in order more speedily to create a breach, and a space sufficient to admit one man had just been made when our storming party (now joined by the head-quarters' wing of 67th, under Colonel Knox) who had partly crossed by the French bridge and partly swum over, forced their way in by single file in the most gallant manner, Lieut. Rogers, 44th Regiment, and Lieut. Burslem, 67th Regiment, being the first to enter, when they assisted in planting the regimental colours of the 67th, carried by Ensign Chaplin, who first planted them on the breech (assisted by Private Lane, 67th Regiment), and subsequently on the cavalier, which he was the first to mount. At the same moment the French effected their entrance, and the garrison was driven back step by step, and hurled pell-mell through the embrasures on the opposite side.\n\nHere the same obstacles which had impeded our advance, obstructed their retreat; in addition to two wet ditches and two belts of pointed bamboo stakes, there was swampy ground, and a third ditch and bank.\n\nThe storming parties opened a destructive fire on them from the cavalier, and this was enhanced by the cannister fire of Captain Govan's guns which had been moved to the left of the fort for this purpose.\n\nThe ground outside the fort was literally strewn with the enemy's dead and wounded: three of the Chinese were impaled on the stakes. A few fugitives reached the outer North Fort, which opened fire to cover their retreat, and was answered by the Armstrong guns with good effect.\n\nAbout an hour after this the whole of the forts on both sides of the river hauled down their war banners, and hoisted flags of truce. General Montauban and I sent each an Officer to ask their meaning, and summon them to surrender, but they only received an evasive and insolent reply, and were defied to come on to the attack.\n\nAccordingly two fresh regiments, the 3d Buffs and the 8th Punjaub Infantry, having been brought up, I advanced to attack the outer North Fort. Two 8-inch guns were placed in position against it; the other siege guns could not be brought up.* The field batteries were placed at 800 yards' range on an arc encircling the left and front, the French guns on our right. Not a shot was fired by the enemy, and the Allied Infantry pushed on, crossed the ditches, and scaled the walls, without meeting any opposition; the garrison of 2,000 men being made prisoners.\n\nThis Fort was stronger than the first. They are all constructed on the same plan, being Redoubts with a thick rampart heavily armed with guns and wall pieces, and having a high cavalier facing seawards, the guns of which were all turned in towards us; they have two unfordable wet ditches, between which and the parapet sharp bamboo stakes were thickly planted, forming two belts, each about 15 feet wide, round the fort, an abattis encircling the whole, and further covered by pieces of water, which force an advance to be made only on a narrow front.\n\nTowards evening the garrisons of the South Forts were observed to be evacuating them, and detachments of English and French were passed over in ships' boats, and occupied them. There is not now the trace of an enemy near us, and the whole of the forts and entrenched camps are in our hands, containing about 400 guns, many of which are of very large calibre.\n\nIt is difficult to account for the confusion and uncertainty which seemed to pervade the enemy when the first fort fell; but it now appears that the general in command was killed, and the second in command was either killed or missing; and the confusion caused by this, together with the severe lesson received in the first fort, rendered them incapable or unwilling of further resistance.\n\nI cannot conclude this Despatch without expressing my sense of the very valuable services of Major-General Sir Robert Napier, who conducted the attack, and whose assistance has been most useful.\n\nThe service of the Artillery under Brigadier-General Crofton was most excellent; its effects I have already described.\n\nThe engineering operations were conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Mann; and, lastly, I must bring to notice the gallant conduct of the storming party, which was commanded by Brigadier Reeves, who, himself severely wounded in three places, did not quit the field until he had conducted his men into the Fort.\n\nThe wounded were removed as soon as possible into Tang-ku, where every arrangement for their temporary reception was made by Dr. Muir, the Principal Medical Officer.\n\n*The guns of the cavalier of the captured fort were manned and turned on it.\n\nMany others, both officers and soldiers, behaved in a manner deserving of being mentioned; but want of time does not permit me to treat of it in this despatch, and on a future occasion I shall do myself the honour of bringing their names to your notice.\n\nI would also wish to inform Her Majesty's Government how cordially and sincerely our French Allies have co-operated with us, as well as the admiration I feel for their gallant conduct in the field.\n\nGeneral de Montauban has always shown every disposition to act thoroughly in concert with me, and to co-operate in every manner in his power.\n\nThe services of the gunboats will doubtless be brought to notice by the Naval Commander-in-Chief, and I beg here to record what a valuable and efficient colleague I have found in Admiral Hope, whose unwearying exertions throughout the whole campaign, and in discharging the numerous duties of transporting this large force to the seat of war have contributed greatly to the success of operations.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) J. HOPE GRANT, Lieut.-Gen.\n\nCommanding Her Majesty's Forces in China.\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nThe Secretary of State for War,\n\nSIR,\n\n&c\n\n&c.\n\n&c.\n\nDESPATCH from Major-General Sir R. NAPIER to Sir J. Hope Grant.\n\nHead Quarters, Tang-ku, August 24, 1860.\n\nTHE 2d Division of the China Force occupied the fortified camp and village of Tang-ku on the 14th instant, and the four succeeding days were devoted to the severe labour of bridging the numerous canals which intersect and surround the work, of making raised causeways through the broad spaces of the interior which are inundated at every tide, and of making roads to the front for heavy Artillery, in preparation for advancing on the Northern Forts of Taku.\n\nHaving received the sanction of the Commander-in-Chief to commence operations against the Fort which lay nearest to my position, I advanced on the evening of the 19th a strong picket, composed as per margin, to the border of a series of canals which surround the enemy's position. The Engineers, under the direction of Lieut.-Colonel Mann, immediately commenced passages across the broad canals to my front and left. My right was comparatively open and bounded by the Peilo. Tartar village and cantonment gave some cover on the left bank. The right bank was studded with strong batteries, which, together with the nearest of the Southern Forts, were capable of giving a severe flanking fire against our line of advance. An attempt to avoid this, by making a way through a series of salt works, consisting of deep canals and broad reservoirs, which protected the enemy's right, was unsuccessful.\n\nThe labour of the night of the 19th, during which nearly my whole picket was on the working parties, advanced us to a distance of 800 yards from the Fort.\n\nOn the morning of the 20th, the Commander-in-Chief visited the positions, and the sites of the batteries were determined on.\n\nUp to this time the enemy had apparently taken no notice of our proceedings, but about 11 A.M. they opened from both of the Northern Forts, from the South Forts, and from the battery on the right bank, thus developing their whole fire. This was of material advantage in guiding my subsequent proceedings.\n\nThe fire from the Fort under attack was immediately replied to most effectively by a few rounds of Milward's Armstrong guns, at a range of 2,000 yards, and after a time the firing gradually died away, without loss on our side.\n\nDuring the night of the 20th the batteries were completed by the Engineer Department, and the remaining canals in front were bridged, so as to give access to the ground, and convert them into valuable cover.\n\nDuring this day the force was strengthened as per margin.\n\nThe Artillery for the batteries was passed to the front during the night, and placed in position before daylight, with the exception of one 8-inch gun, which got so deeply embedded in the mud that it could not be extricated until morning,\n\nAn aide-de-camp from General Collinôt informed me at dusk, on the evening of the 20th, that the French force destined to share in the attack had arrived.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-079 - Public Offices - 1860.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 262100, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-105 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [5-7]", "page_number": 271, "title": "CO129-105 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [5-7]", "content_text": "## CHAPTER IV\n\n### OF THE OBLIGATION OF THE MASTERS ON ARRIVAL AND DISEMBARCATION\n\nArt. 9. The immigrants are landed at Paramaribo. Should a party of immigrants be brought on, exclusively destined for the districts of Nickerie and Coronie, the vessels may enter Nickerie. In that case the regulations, established for the importation at Paramaribo, shall be applicable.\n\nArt. 10. If on the arrival at Braamspunt, there be any sick person on board, the master does not sail up the river Surinam any further than the quarantine establishment near the former redoubt \"Leiden\". The master is with his vessel, subject to the quarantine measures prescribed by the colonial ordinances, if the illness is contagious. If neither of the cases exists, the vessel sails to the fort of New-Amsterdam. In the district of Nickerie, the vessel comes to anchor near the Nickerie point.\n\nArt. 11. Immediately after arrival, either before the fort of New-Amsterdam or at the Nickerie-point, the master gives notice thereof; in the former case, to the commissary at Paramaribo, charged with the superintendence over the immigrants, and in the latter case to the district-commissary; forwarding at the same time a statement containing the names of those for whom the immigrants are destined, the date of their departure from the place of embarcation, and from the port they last touched at, the number of the immigrants imported and their condition, together with an expedition of the original documents, or an authenticated copy thereof, as indicated by Art. 8:4 and 5, and of a statement of mutations by birth or decease during the voyage. The said functionaries send, as soon as possible, copies of these documents to the Governor.\n\nArt. 12. The documents named in Art. 11 having been found in order, either the commissary at Paramaribo or the district-commissary at Nickerie institutes a medical inquiry into the sanitary state of the immigrants on board of the vessel. The immigrants are further confronted with a call of names, and a report is drawn up of their condition as well as of the treatment which they met with during the voyage. After that, the vessel which entered the river Surinam sails up till before the town; that which lies at Nickerie stops before New-Botterdam.\n\nArt. 13. If all conditions and obligations prove to have been duly filled, the commissary at Paramaribo, having given previous notice to the Governor, and the district-commissary at Nickerie, deliver, of their own authority, a written voucher thereof to the master. If, however, it appears that the master has not complied with all the regulations, or if the complaints about the immigrants give rise thereto, the commissary at Paramaribo, having given previous notice to the Governor and to the district-commissary, communicates the facts of his own authority as soon as possible, to the attorney-general, in order to institute prosecution, if terms exist therefor, and makes mention thereof in the voucher to be delivered to the master. Within five days, after the delivery of the said voucher, the master disembarks the immigrants, with their luggage.\n\nArt. 14. The master is liable to punishment for not fulfilling all the obligations imposed on him by present ordinance.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-105 - Acting Governor Mercer - 1865 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 286604, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-155 - Others - 1871", "page_number": 73, "title": "CO129-155 - Others - 1871", "content_text": "B. F\n\n..... 4847 72 K-4947-72-Horseshoe??\n\nMINUTE PAPER.\n\nIn Pursuance of an order, Mr. Riddle is rather a long time at home for Mr. Riddle & delay his departure. Fallett case RL Part of. Jr. Arating there is no harm in telling him ole(122/5-\n\nConcerning expatriation, I hope that he will be prepared to leave without fail at the time mentioned. The Chaplain is urgently requested, Hong Kong -\n\nIt will be very hot for children in the Redoubt in Aug. but I suppose that cannot be helped.\n\nRM23/5 KMay23/7/1\n\n \nPage information is not detected in this text, and the original text has been proofread and formatted according to the given rules.\n\n was removed as per rule 12. The text has been formatted into HTML using tags as per the output requirement. The original text's OCR errors have been corrected, and spacing issues have been fixed. The text has been reordered and rejoined where necessary. The file reference has been formatted according to rule 10.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-155 - Others - 1871.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 300813, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8]", "page_number": 555, "title": "CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8]", "content_text": "530\n\n1874. 24 Aug : Absent on duty. Fined $2 and cautioned\n\n1876 . 21 Feb. Being without his side arms when on guard duty. Cautioned.\n\n1877. 13th Jan: Leaving Redoubt ward unlocked\n\nSmid 257.\n\n#\n\n309\n\n5 April. Leaving cell unlocked\n\n31 May Leaving cell unlocked\n\n109.. 18. Peter Ferris 1st Class Gaoler enters.\n\n1872. 11. Jun. Disobedience of orders. Fined $1.\n\n19. J. Greew. 1st Class Guard.\n\n1871-11 Dec. neglect of duty. Fined\n\n1873. 10. Jan: Do. $3.\n\n19th June Negligence and reading newspaper when on duty. Fined $0.50\n\n12 Aug. Hopping & chinese prisoner\n\n1874. 6th Feb. Beating a prisoner. $2\n\n1875 . 26 Nov. Neglect leaving a cell unlocked.\n\n1876. 2. Mar.\n\n19th May.\n\n25th June. Willing\n\nCautioned\n\nFined $2\n\nCautioned\n\ndown and conversing with a prisoner when on duty\n\nFined $1.\n\n9th Sept: Leaving cell unlocked ..... 167\n\n1877. 3 July. Using violence to a prisoner.\n\nFined $2 & Cautioned\n\nDismissed 6th July 1877.\n\n20.\n\nD. Silva, 2nd class Guard\n\n1873. 10 Oct: Being drunk. Fined $4.\n\n1876. 18th March, Conversing with a prisoner. Reprimanded.\n\n11. Sept. Neglect of duty : Fined $2\n\n1877. 26. May.\n\n28th May\n\noo.\n\nBo.\n\n309", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 309915, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "page_number": 41, "title": "CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "content_text": "these\n\nconfidential suggestions, but before\n\nCommission:\n\nJ. Meade\n\nto 1.0.0\n\na.a.D.\n\n8/11\n\n-Defence\n\nProceed as Mr. Pearson proposes referring to and letter of the Myth of Oct. treat 139. ?\n\nThe scheme reads very well. but it has this disadvantage that in the event of a Chinese outbreak the town & the Civil officials & their Europeans come be at the mercy of the Military being safely concentrated a mile away in Whera The present military barracks divide the town into three portions, the Troops\n\nThe spot : & I rather think that guns can be placed as to command the town from one sheet\n\nI think I hear that the Queens Redoubt is commanded by Embrasure -\n\nProceed as suggested – having that the Scheme should be considered also in its bearing upon the security of the Civil European population, including the Governor\n\nMeade\n\nMr. T. D. Hall de min 8.9.1\n\nMr Meade\n\nMr. De Robeck\n\nS.W. O. 16/11\n\nIf I understand rightly, it is not proposed to hold now a quarry at Iftam but make a chamber which will bring down\n\nThat locality water which now runs to waste? that how this is\n\nIf I am not wrong we should promise that this scheme should not be made available again for the purpose of the Water Supply question There is no reason why Lukich should be in a state of uncertainty that both sources of Water, in peace, may be cut off in time of War.\n\nI think Mr. Crepare assumes there is a reservoir which might be destroyed. Probably we should get what the actual statement of Mr. C.\n\nPage 30714\n\n \n(The last line \"Am 30714\" is kept as is, assuming it's part of the original text or a scanning artifact.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 311461, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2]", "page_number": 482, "title": "CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2]", "content_text": "# CHINCHCE \n\n## NOTE \n\nAll applications for Building sites on Kowloon Peninsula where situated, East, land hands, situate for Qué Pasta, Persevata, Signad Stakeya, Batteries for to me referred to the Colonel Office Commanding for disposal being quoted.\n\n## REFERENCE \n\n| Item | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| Ches | |\n| Limi | |\n| LIGHT | Roads |\n| | Waterways |\n| | Water supply to Town |\n| W.D.Property | |\n| | Existing Batteries |\n| | Proposed |\n| Do | Redoubts |\n| D | Outposts |\n| D2 | Signal Stations |\n| | Pathways of Communication |\n| D | Sub-Marine Mining Fields |\n| | Telegraph Stations |\n| | Villages & Buildings |\n| | LEVELS |\n| | LIGHTHOUSES |\n\nRange of 10\" R.M.L. Gun shewn as 3000Yards\n\n| Distance | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 2500 | 9\" |\n| 2000 | 7\" |\n| | 0° |\n| | B |\n\n## HONG KONG \n\nTo Accompany Report of Defence Committee.\n\n### Proposed Batteries \n\n| Location | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| Central | |\n| Tine Island | |\n| Kontoon West | Better Battery |\n| Cast | Deep Kaver |\n| Hound Island | |\n| TYTAM | |\n| Mint Bay | |\n| Stanley | |\n\n487 \n\n`393-1` \n`40035` \nAustinson \nDenn for Inidad \n\n## LIGHT HOUSES \n\nSport Amider \nSlope stand", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-197 - Governor Hennessy - 1882 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319901, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 456, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "# 452 \n## 13.\n\nExposed to cooler breezes than the others, but as the barracks will not be intended for permanent occupation, this will not compensate for the disadvantage of their being at a greater distance from the work. They need only be of light construction, with attap roofs, could be put up in a short time when wanted for about £5 a unit. \n\nA small infantry redoubt on the summit of Mount Imbiah: a machine gun may also be provided for this work. Capable of being defended by 50 men, half a company should be placed. \n\n## 346", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319906, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 461, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "# Serapong Redoubt\n\nThe redoubt on Mount Serapong, which is at present very small and of weak construction, should be considerably enlarged and made much stronger, and armed with 3-40 Prs guns of position. Matsheds should be provided for its garrison in time of war, and tanks for water arranged so as to be filled by the rainfall should be supplied.\n\nI cannot think that a rifled howitzer in Blakang Mati Castle, would have the effect of keeping down musketry fire from Mount Serapong should the redoubt be taken; there is good cover...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319907, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 462, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## 458 \n19.\n\nCover in the bush round, and below the redoubt, in which men could take up positions quite unseen from the battery.\n\nAlthough the batteries at Mount Liliso and Blakang Mati cast bring a powerful fire to bear upon the entrances to the harbour, they do not sufficiently command the water to the South of the Island.\n\nThere is at present a space to the South and East of Blakang Mati Island, which is deep by one fathom only at present, but navigable by junks.\n\n## 346 \n22.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319911, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 466, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "462 \n## 23.\n\nwith the view the islands of throwing shells over it into the docks and other Establishments in the harbour. \nBlakan mati Sobeth Battery au 7\" Guns \nZ Battery 20,000 uncement (on the spot) \n20,000 \n\nThe new battery, for which an armament of 3-7 guns would be sufficient, would prevent them doing this. The guns at present in Tanjong Katong would be available for this battery. \nIt should be made secure against \"Coup-de-main\", and roads of communication between it and Mount Faber Redoubt and Blakang Mati East Battery should be made. \n\n26 \n346 \nProper", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319927, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 482, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## 39. Land Defences\n\nTo secure the possession of Blakang Mati Island, redoubts are proposed at Mount Serapong and Mount Imbeah, the former being the most important of the two as it commands the greater portion of the Island and over...\n\n| Item | Description | Cost |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 2 Gunboats and 4 Launches | Similar to those used for protection of minefields. Spare fittings for... | |\n| 8 motor launches | It would be better if certain... was ascertained at home, but what is proposed at Hong Kong, it was thought at the time that... | |\n| Guns | 3-410 in guns to be placed on Flakang Island, Mati... | 3000 |\n| Guns | ... | 4000 |\n| Guns | ... | 100 |\n| | Bennmand can be obtained. | 346 |\n| | ... | 18000 |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319928, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 483, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## Office Memorandum\n\nIt should be armed with 3 medium Guns.\n\nThe Redoubt at Mount-Redoubt might be provided with a Machine Gun in addition to the field Artillery.\n\nGarrison of Mount Serapong 100 \nThat of Mount Lubeal 3v.\n\nIt would be advisable to provide another Company of Infantry, to aid in the defence of the sea batteries against any sudden attack.\n\nTotal Infantry for the Island 346 \n250 man\n\n| Location | Troop/Gun | Number |\n| --------------- | ---------------- | ------ |\n| Anchorage | Infantry | 1000 |\n| Beah Redoubt | Gun Batteries | |\n| Mount-Redoubt | Machine Gun | |\n| Mount Serapong | Garrison | 100 |\n| Mount Lubeal | Garrison | 3v |\n| Total Infantry | | 346 | \n| | | 250 man|", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319931, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 486, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## \n482 \n\nposition, and so Canning possible for long were held it would not be an enemy to reach the new harbour in force. The intermediate redoubts would prevent any sudden rush or attempt. \n\nHaber Redoubt \n64 Pr \n15,000 \nXX by payment - 2000 of 17,000.\n\nA small body of men to destroy the docks and coals at the wharves. \n\nA work well down Mount Faber too towards the front of the proposed Battery at Passir Panjang and prevents any advance in that direction. \n\nIt should as recommended in the W.O. Memorandum be an Enclosed work to hold 200 men and 64 Pr could be mounted in \n346 \n4-624", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319934, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 489, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## \nNear the extreme right of the line of defence, I would recommend that additional defence be provided on this flank by placing two field redoubts for 50 men on the intermediate points between the streams by the old prison and to contain each 2 - 40 Pr. Guns.\n\nField redoubts thrown up in time of war on the line of defence. In addition to the proposed line of defence, a redoubt in rear of the town in time of war, armed with 40-Pr. Guns and held by 60 men.\n\nFort Albertin - Fixed Guns.\n\nBy Capt. McCallum means for inundating the valley, and so making it quite impassable along the greater part of the front, should be provided.\n\nEnclosure for a body of infantry on the site of the old fort.\n\n485 \n46 \n49 346 \nFullerton", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319936, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 491, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## \nA road of Communication should be made in rear of the central position. Telegraphic or telephonic Communication should be established between the various batteries and redoubts, all being connected with Fort Canning.\n\n## Garrison Required\nThe peace Establishment consists of garrison batteries of Artillery, and one regiment of British Infantry, less two companies stationed at Penang.\n\nI have in my report...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319937, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 492, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## Defence of Singapore\n\nThe total number of guns proposed for the defence of New Harbour are:\n| Type | Number | Location |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 16-10\" Guns | | Coast Batteries |\n| 3-7\" guns | | |\n| 3-40 Prs | | Mount Seraping |\n| 4-64 Pr | | |\n| 6 field guns or guns of position | | |\n| 4-64 Pr | | Other guns |\n| 2 Field guns | | Mount Faber |\n| | | Intermediate Redoubts |\n| | | Fort Canning |\n| | | Fort Pasir Panjang |\n| 19 medium | | Fort Siloso |\n\nmaking in all 16 heavy guns, 52 medium, 346 \n\nPur-bay-commuters Committee coincide.\n\nThe Defence Committee recommended that the infantry be concentrated at Singapore, and in that view the settlement, No 50 of 23 inst, whole of 488 47. \n\nVAY. Sanismy Defenas of that settlement...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 497, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## \nBesides the difficulties, the ponies of the country are extremely small. \nOf Infantry, there would be required:\n| Location | Number of Men |\n| --- | --- |\n| Mount Seraping | 100 |\n| Mount Imbeah | 50 |\n| To assist in defence of Batteries | 100 |\n| Blakang Mati | 200 |\n| Fort Canning | 250 |\n| Faber | 100 |\n| Intermediate redoubts and Fort Fullerton | 200 |\n| Pasir Panjang | 100 |\n| Total | 1000 men |\n\nIn addition, there should be a moveable force of 800 men held in total reserve, making a total of 1800.\n\nTo allow for extra men required for Artillery Service, 57 men are needed, totaling 346 (extra men for Artillery and others not specified but included in the total of 346).", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319953, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 508, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## For New Harbour: \n\nLea batteries. \n\n| Category | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| | 504 |\n| | 65 |\n| | 91,000 |\n| Armaments for Do... | 57,440 |\n| Entrenched Posts Redoubts | 28,800 |\n| Armaments for $0. | 7,600 |\n| | 500 |\n| Submarine Mines | |\n| Barracks | 15, |\n| Land | |\n| Purchase of | ممن مند |\n| Roads and Landing places | 4,000 |\n\nTotal | 205,340 \n| --- | --- |\n\n(The above provides for a battery at Janyong Paggar Bock wall instead of at Mount Palmer. And in addition, the expenditure in the \"Roads\" is debited...)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319959, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 514, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## Defences of Singapore\n\n### Garrison Required\n\n| Station | Scouts | Artillery | Infantry | Total | Remarks |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| New Harbour | 100 | | | 100 | |\n| 2 batteries Garrison | | 200 | | 200 | |\n| Mount Silos Berlayer Battery | | 100 | | 100 | |\n| Blake Blakang Mati Cart | | 100 | | 100 | |\n| Janjong Paggar Blakang Mati S. | | | 50 | 50 | |\n| | | | 68 | 68 | Gummer Infantry |\n| Fort Canning | | | 80 | 80 | |\n| Fort Faber | | | 60 | 60 | |\n| Redoubts | | | 22 | 22 | |\n| Mount Scaping | | | 100 | 100 | Infantry |\n| | | | 600 | 600 | |\n| 1 European Regiment | | | 1000 | 1000 | |\n| Irubeah | | | 50 | 50 | |\n| 1 Native Indian Do. | | | 1000 | 1000 | |\n| Batteries Blakang Mati Island | | 200 | | 200 | |\n| Fort Tamiing Faber | | | | | otter Redoubts qu |\n| Fort Fullerton | | | 1250 | 1250 | |\n| Berlayer Battly | | 100 | | 100 | |\n| Reserve | | | 800 | 800 | 1800 |\n| Existing Artillery | | 145 | | 145 | 1945 |\n| Day | | 200 | | 200 | |\n| \"Infantry and 208 Artillery, will be required in addition if the Roadstead is defended.\" | | | | | |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319978, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 533, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## Existing Harbour Facilities\n\nOn the northern side of this island are the Naval Coal Stores, and on the southern side is a small dock. Opposite Pulo Brani and at the foot of the Mount Faber range, are the wharves of the Borneo Company, Jardine's Company, and the Peninsula and Oriental Company. The total length of these wharves is about 600 yards. Still further to the westward, and near the western entrance to the New Harbour, which is only about 300 yards wide, are the wharves, docks, fitting shops, and coal sheds of the New Harbour Dock Company. Here are two docks, 415 feet and 459 feet long respectively, whilst the wharves will accommodate five or six vessels. These wharves, docks, and machine shops are now constantly under use by Dutch ships of war, which are sent here from Acheen to repair and refit, and may of course also be used by vessels of the Royal Navy. Their situation is most advantageous, for it will be seen that the New Harbour is covered on the sea side by the Blakan Mati and on the land side by Mount Faber with its adjacent hills; the entrance from the westward is narrow, whilst the Outer Shoal and Pulo Brani partially close the eastern entrance to vessels of heavy tonnage. The harbour thus assumes the form of a long arrow-shaped navigable basin which, with but little difficulty, could be closed against hostile vessels.\n\n## Existing Defences\n\nThe existing works of Singapore are weak and insignificant. Built many years ago, they were only intended to meet local requirements, and were constructed without reference to the importance of the place as an Imperial Naval Station. They are five in number, viz--Fort Canning, crowning the hill at the back of the town; Fort Fullerton, situated on the low projecting spit at the entrance of the Singapore river; Mount Palmer Battery, constructed on the steep sea-face of the hill of the same name; Mount Faber Battery, situated on the south-eastern extremity of that ridge, at a height of 132 feet; and a battery for two 13-inch Mortars near the site of the flag-staff (Point 1) at a distance of about 900 yards from the last-named work, and at a height of about 300 feet above the level of the sea. The position of these defences is shown on `Plan (D)`.\n\n### Fort Canning\n\nFort Canning is a long, narrow, straggling work, 450 yards in length by 80 yards in mean width, its trace approximately following the top contour of the hill on which it is built. It is unprovided with flank defence; the parapets are weak and badly proportioned; the ditch is shallow and insignificant; the scarp and counter-scarp are for the most part unrevetted; the glacis are only partially swept by musketry fire from the parapet; the magazines are not bomb-proof and are much exposed; and there is, moreover, little or no bombproof cover for the garrison.\n\nThe armament in its present condition is practically unserviceable. Most of the S.B. guns with which it is armed require re-venting, and the wooden carriages and platforms, upon which they are mounted, have all suffered from exposure to climate.\n\nAt the southern end of the Fort is an outwork called the South or Seaward Battery. The terreplein of this battery is at a somewhat lower level than that of the main work, and its gorge is closed by the main parapet. It is armed with seven 68-pdrs. S.B. guns of 95 cwt.--only one of which is at present serviceable. Five of these guns, however, are repairable. The main work is armed with eight 8-inch S.B. guns of 65 cwt. mounted at intervals at the salients, together with three 13-inch M.S. mortars of 36 cwt. on its south-eastern face. In the centre of the terreplein stand a Barrack and Offices, originally built to accommodate two garrison batteries of Royal Artillery. They are now occupied by the headquarters of one battery of Royal Artillery and by a company of Infantry.\n\nFort Canning is too retired to be of service for the defence of the roadstead, even if the work were remodelled to receive a heavy armament of long range. A fire from this work, moreover, would not only be ineffective in itself, but would draw an enemy's fire on the town. The fort, however, occupies a position from whence Singapore is well commanded on all sides, and, in case of an insurrection of the coloured population, it would be a valuable place of refuge for the Europeans of the settlement, whilst its fire would overawe the town and prevent the insurgents from maintaining possession thereof. If properly armed, its western faces would command the valley which extends towards Mount Faber, and with a work, to which I shall hereafter refer, on this point, the intervening country would be swept, and an enemy prevented from advancing on the land side to attack the establishments in the New Harbour.\n\nFort Canning should, therefore, be maintained, not as a work to aid in the defence of Singapore to seaward, but to combine with a work on Mount Faber, and an intermediate field redoubt, in sweeping the valley between itself and Mount Faber; also to command the chief quarters of the town. It should, therefore, undergo such alteration and receive such armament as would secure these objects. I would recommend that four rifled guns of small calibre--say 64-pdrs. Palliser converted M.L.R. guns--should be mounted on the western faces; that the 8-inch S.B. guns, which form part of the existing armament, should be re-vented and re-distributed in the most convenient manner to command the town; that the glacis should be cleared and levelled, and the profile of the work so altered that the musketry fire from the parapet should sweep the ground in front; that a palisade be constructed...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319979, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 534, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## \n8\n\nalong the centre of the bottom of the ditch, and that flank defence be provided therein. I would also recommend that the southern part of this work should be cut off from the long straggling main work by a flanked ditch and wall. This interior retrenchment would not only serve as a redoubt for the whole work, from which an artillery fire could still be maintained on the town, but would provide for the probable contingency of its having to be defended by a small garrison only.\n\n## Fort Fullerton\n\nFort Fullerton, a weak battery à fleur d'eau, has been partially dismantled to make way for the Government Post Office, but it still has an armament of nine 68-pdrs, of 95 cwt., six of which are mounted. Eight of these guns, however, require re-venting and one is unserviceable. This work was formerly intended to assist in the defence of the roadstead, but its retired position and want of command render it very unsuitable for this object. Like Fort Canning, moreover, a fire from this work would draw the enemy's fire on the town. Fort Fullerton would, however, owing to its position, be a useful post in case of a rising of the native population, and I would recommend that it should be retained with reference to this contingency. With this view, the guns mounted on the sea-face should be removed, the embrasures filled up, and the parapet provided with a banquette. The gorge of the work should also be closed by a loopholed wall, in connection with the Post Office.\n\n## Painter Battery\n\nThis battery is constructed in the shape of an elongated horse-shoe, 100 feet in length by 10 feet in mean width, and is armed with five 56-pdrs., S. B. guns of 98 cwt., three of which only are now in position and these require re-venting; the remaining two are dismounted and unserviceable. There is no bombproof accommodation, and its magazine, which is situated in the gorge of the work close to the guns, is weak and much exposed. This battery occupies a commanding position, however, and was constructed with a view of bringing a cross fire to bear on the roadstead in connection with Forts Canning and Fullerton. Owing to its small extent, the guns are placed very close together, and but one 4-foot traverse is provided. This circumstance, taken in connection with its position on a narrow ledge on the face of the cliff, would always have rendered the service of the guns dangerous. The site is quite unsuited for the requirements of modern warfare, and I recommend that the armament should be removed, and the battery entirely dismantled. The summit of the hill, upon the slope of which it stands, presents, however, a very advantageous and commanding site for a work to aid in the defence of the roadstead and the New Harbour. I shall refer to this point hereafter.\n\n## Mount Faber Battery\n\nThis battery was constructed for two 56-pdrs., S. B. guns of 95 cwt., and designed to bear upon the eastern and western entrances of the New Harbour, which are distant 2,300 yards and 2,400 yards respectively, as well as to play upon any vessel that had succeeded in entering the harbour, in which the navigation is somewhat difficult. The armament of this work has, however, been removed and the work itself has not been kept in repair.\n\n## Mount Faber Mortar Battery\n\nThe two 13-inch mortars are still in position, but the work itself can scarcely be said to exist. The mortars were intended to play upon the deck of any vessel that may have entered the New Harbour, but it need scarcely be added that so small an amount of vertical fire would scarcely afford such protection.\n\n## \n9\n\nIt will be seen that the existing defences scarcely provide in any degree for the protection of New Harbour, and that there is nothing to prevent a hostile cruizer from entering, and destroying the shipping, wharves, docks, and establishments therein.\n\nI will now consider what defences are necessary to afford the required protection.\n\n## Proposed defences\n\nDistant as Singapore is from any great foreign naval centre of operations, from whence a possibly hostile maritime power could despatch an expedition in any great force, it is only necessary to defend it against the attack of a squadron which might consist of three or four vessels, one or two of which would probably be ironclad. If it were considered necessary to provide for defence against non-armourclad vessels only, of course a large saving would be effected in the cost of armaments. It is, however, to be observed that France and Holland each have, at the present time, at least one ironclad in the Eastern Seas. A few months ago, there were three ironclad vessels, two French and one Dutch, in Harbour here.\n\n## General plan of defence\n\nIn order to provide effectively for the protection of New Harbour, I would propose to place two works on the island of Blakan Mati--one on Mount Serpong, the other on Mount Siloso; also a new battery on Mount Palmer. I further propose to occupy Mount Faber for defence on the land side. The positions of these works are shown on `plan I` herewith.\n\n## Work on Mount Serpong\n\nThe work on Mount Serapong would bring a fire to bear seaward upon the wide zone which extends from the western entrance of the New Harbour to Tanjong Paggar spit; flank the front of Blakan Mati and of the proposed work on Mount Siloso; command the New Harbour from end to end, and, though at long range, the Singapore Straits to the southward. In conjunction with the work on Mount Palmer, it would also maintain a cross-fire on the channels leading into the New Harbour from the Eastward. Its commanding situation, on the cul-", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319980, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 535, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## Defence of New Harbour and Roadstead\n\nThe defence of the New Harbour and roadstead is a critical aspect of the overall defence strategy. The terminating point of Blakan Mati, from which an all-round fire can be brought to bear, will render it the key of the defences, whilst the decks of vessels which may attempt to force an entrance into the New Harbour, or which might have succeeded in doing so, will be exposed to its plunging fire. I recommend that this fort should be the largest of the new works of defence, and that it should be constructed to receive ten H-inch M.L.R. guns, distributed in the most convenient manner round a knoll which crowns the summit of the hill, and which will perform the office of a large traverse to protect the guns in any face from the effects of reverse fire.\n\nThe western entrance of the Harbour will be closed by the work on Mount Siloso. From this point, a fire can be brought to bear upon any vessel attempting to enter the Harbour from the westward, or upon any vessel that might have succeeded in effecting an entrance into the Harbour. A flanking fire would also be brought to bear along the front of Blakan Mati, and along that of the south-western coast of the island of Singapore.\n\nIt has been suggested that as Mount Imbeal, the next hill to the eastward of Mount Siloso, has a command of some 30 feet over Mount Siloso, that this point should be occupied in preference. Mount Siloso, from its height, would, however, intercept the fire from a work on Mount Imbeal to a distance of about 3,000 yards from Mount Siloso. The occupation of Mount Imbeal, instead of Mount Siloso, would, therefore, entail the construction of a work on the island of Singapore, on the northern side of, and at a little distance from, the western entrance, in order to command the space which would otherwise be undefended. The construction of a work on Mount Imbeal would thus entail an increased expense for forts and armaments, the employment of additional troops, and further splitting up of the garrison. As to the question of command, the battery on Mount Siloso could be perfectly defiladed, if necessary, from Mount Imbeal, supposing an enemy were able to take possession of this point, an operation which, under the circumstances of the case, would be quite impracticable.\n\nI recommend that the work on Mount Siloso should be an open battery constructed for six 11-inch M.L.R. guns.\n\n### Work on Mount Palmer\n\nThe work on Mount Palmer should be placed on the summit of the hill, 110 feet above sea level. I recommend that it should be constructed for four 11-inch M.L.R. guns. Its gorge should be prepared to receive two or three pieces of small calibre to flank the northern slopes of the Mount Faber and to enfilade the valley stretching in front of that range.\n\nThis fort will co-operate with that on Mount Serapong in defending the eastern entrance into the New Harbour. It will also command that part of the harbour between its eastern entrance and the Borneo Company's wharves. Its fire will also sweep the roadstead and the adjacent shore of Singapore to Tanjong Katong.\n\n### Defence of Roadstead, &c.\n\nBy the construction of the three works on Mounts Serapong, Siloso, and Palmer, the coaling depots, wharves, and establishments in the New Harbour would be protected from attack from seaward. Protection should, however, also be afforded from attack by a body of men which might land at some point on the Island of Singapore, and march upon the harbour, with the object of burning the coals and stores and destroying the wharves, &c.\n\nWith this view, I would place two redoubts on Mount Faber range, designed so that their fire would command the country in their front, as well as the roads of approach to New Harbour. One of these redoubts should be placed on the north-western extremity of the range, at a height of 357 feet above the level of the sea; the other on the south-eastern spur above the site of the present Mount Faber Battery, at a height of about 270 feet. These two works, in conjunction with the guns on the south-western front of Fort Canning (which is about 4,000 yards distant), and with those in the gorge of the battery to be constructed on Mount Palmer (which is about 2,000 yards distant), would command the approaches by which access to New Harbour could be obtained by an enemy, who had landed for the purpose of attacking the ships and establishments therein.\n\nThe works which I have proposed would complete the project of the defence of the New Harbour, with its coal depôts, &c.\n\nThis project, however, would not provide for the protection of a large portion of the shipping which lies in the roadstead. The guns on Mount Serapong and the battery on Mount Palmer would command a considerable portion of the roadstead, but there would be nothing to prevent a hostile vessel from taking up a position in the north-eastern part of the anchorage, and, with her guns, setting fire to or sinking all the shipping in the roads. I, therefore, propose that a battery, armed with five 11-inch M.L.R. guns, should be constructed near Tanjong Katong to prevent the approach of such hostile vessel in this direction.\n\n### Clear Atmosphere\n\nIn considering the degree of defence that would be afforded by the artillery fire from the works, it should be observed that, in the clear atmosphere of this climate, the distances appear to be much shorter, and the chances of hitting a vessel at long range are much greater than in the hazy atmosphere of England.\n\nAs regards the defence of the roadstead, it should further be observed that the zone to be commanded by artillery fire only would be diminished by the presence of a shoal, about 2,500 yards in length, situated at a distance of some 2,000 yards in advance of the centre of the line...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 319983, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "page_number": 538, "title": "CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882", "content_text": "## (2)\n\nSeveral alterations will be necessary in order to protect the battery against a fire from the southward and also from Mount Serapong.\n\n## 7.\nAs a musketry fire from Mount Serapong might make it difficult to work the present No. 6 gun, a rifled howitzer should be placed so as to command the redoubt on the mount. A mortar to be used until a rifled howitzer could be supplied.\n\nBy these changes, three armour-piercing guns and one 64-pounder would be brought to bear over the South part of Blakang Mati Island, whilst at the same time two armour-piercing guns and two 7-inch guns would direct their fire over the eastern approaches to the New Harbour.\n\nThe approaches to Mount Serapong, available for a force which had landed near Blakang Mati South would be commanded by two guns from Blakang Mati East, but the redoubt on the mount should be strengthened.\n\n## 9.\nThe term \"armour-piercing gun\" is used to denote a gun that will pierce 8 inches of armour at a distance of 3,000 yards.\n\n## 10.\nThe following table will show the proposed increase of guns, &c., in Blakang Mati East.\n\n| | 64-pounder | 7-inch | Armour piercing | Rifled Howitzer |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| At present | 2 | | | |\n| Proposed | | 1 | | 1 |\n\nSingapore, 28th December, 1880.\n\nTo Lieut.-Colonel H. Parnell, C.B., \nCommandant,\n\nC. JOHNSTONE, Commander, \nH.M.S. Egeria.\n\nGEORGE G. HANNEN, Major, R.A. \nE. F. RHODES, Lieutenant, Commanding R.E. \nPresident of the Singapore Defence Committee.\n\n## Battery Blakang Mati South\n\n14. The scheme proposed to remove the dead angle off Tembu Silegar without the construction of a fresh battery at Blakang Mati South, is as much as the existing batteries will admit of, but I cannot appreciate it as a satisfactory substitute, and looking to the opinion expressed by the authors in paragraph 5 of their Report, I still urge the construction of this new work (armed with the 7-ton guns from Tanjong Katong and with an armour-piercing gun) for the following reasons:\n\n(a) That the command of Fort Siloso and its distance are too great for any strengthening of its artillery to be of much effect (vide paragraph 12 ante).\n\n(b) That leaving the 64-pounder out of account as its effective range is too short, we have still only three guns bearing on the zone of attack; that one of these, No. 6, cannot fire when the enemy, as he probably will do (vide paragraph 7...), lies to the East of a line to Middle Island, so that two guns only can be depended on; and that these guns fire at a long range and from an elevation which will cause the projectiles to have a rapid angle of descent.\n\n(c) That the enemy can lie under Blakang Mati South or under Pulo Sikookur without being seen from Blakang Mati East, which could be then bombarded by high angle fire.\n\n(d) That granting the disadvantageous nature of Blakang Mati for landing, and the subsequent difficulties which a landed force would experience, that it would be a great thing to be in a position to prevent such landing by guns bearing on a strip which is now undefended and defiladed by the sea cliffs.\n\n(e) That the position itself is a good one for a battery; that it will close the gap between Forts Siloso and Blakang Mati East; and that consequently all the advantages which collateral works and concentrated fire carry with them will be gained thereby.\n\n(f) That the position is no more isolated than Tanjong Katong, or even Blakang Mati East itself, and that being but 1,000 yards distant from the latter battery can be supported by light guns mounted on the right flank thereof.\n\n(g) That the expense involved, say as a maximum £1,800 per gun, or £7,200, is little if at all more than that necessary to carry out the various alterations proposed to meet with the same object, which object, however, would be only partially obtained, and that in a less efficient manner.\n\nH. E. McCALLUM, Captain, R.E. \n15th January, 1881.\n\nPage 346", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-205 - Public Offices - 1882.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 324927, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "page_number": 187, "title": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "content_text": "6\n\n185\n\nshall\n\nhas consented that the passage be one hundred and fifty (150) Chinese feet across, equivalent to about one hundred and ninety (190) English feet. This is sufficient for all practical commercial purposes. The famous Boque Forte, commanding\n\nhave been enlarged and strengthened, and mounted with heavy guns; while several new\n\nThe river,\n\nbatteries and redoubts have been created at various points. Torpedoes\n\nand submarine mines are in\n\nreadiness. There is, moreover, great\n\nactivity\n\nactivity in the Arsenals at Canton, Shanghai, Foochow, Tientsin, and elsewhere. Chinese artificers have now learned under European and\n\nAmerican instructors, to imitate\n\nsuccessfully the best modern modes\n\nof\n\ncannon,\n\nrifles, and\n\nguns and torpedoes.\n\n5.\n\neven machine\n\nThe Viceroy of Canton\n\napparently is not disposed to place\n\nentire reliance on the declarations\n\nof the French Officers that their warlike operations will be confined to Tonquin;\n\nand that no attack is\n\nmeditated.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328641, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "page_number": 416, "title": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "content_text": "## Colonel Walker's Estimate of the Cost of the Works of Fortifications\n\n| Location | £ |\n| --- | --- |\n| Works at Betchers and Fly Point | 23,000 |\n| Works at Stonecutter West and West Central | 25,000 |\n| Lyemun | 30,000 |\n| Green Island | 5,000 |\n| Beliliau (or Yean) Redoubt | 5,000 |\n| Stonecutter East | 1,000 |\n| Improvements to Existing Forts | 4,000 |\n| Redoubt Magazines and emplacements for 5 guns on the Peak heights | 5,000 |\n| Advanced works Kowloon Peninsula | 10,000 |\n\nMay 18th 1883 \nTotal £110,000 \n(Signed) E. Walker Colonel", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 329230, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "content_text": "8 \n\nuseful and permanent, it must be proceeded with steadily and without inducing haste. \n\nPreliminary correspondence, surveys, and designs, being practically all completed during the past year, there is every reason to believe that the rate of progress, especially in the approaching dry weather, will much exceed the previous rate; but even this has, I submit, been satisfactory.\n\n| Description | £ | s | d |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| The Colonial Defence Contribution | 10,484 | 5 | 9 |\n| Done, but not yet billed | 1,366 | 17 | 0 |\n| | | | |\n| Representing a total of | 13,851 | 2 | 9 |\n\nwhich, I may add, does not include any payment for the purchase of the Steam Launch Sapper, of which the cost has been transferred to Imperial charge. \n\nIn addition to the above, the War Department has incurred a charge of £3,900 principally for alterations to existing work.\n\nIf approved designs for Fly Point, Stonecutter Nest Central, a new 64-pounder Battery recently ordered, the Lyemoon Redoubt, and revisions are decided upon, I see no reason why the works should not be practically completed by 31st March 1887. \n\nGenerally, I may say that the four interior works, North Point, Kowloon Dock, Kowloon West, and Stonecutter East Central, have been converted from open Batteries into defensible Forts; and, with respect to the new...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 329559, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "page_number": 368, "title": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "content_text": "367\n\n**Gang** will also be allotted for the defence of the Submarine Mine Field. Lyemoon Centre. On the summit of the hill between these two works will be constructed a small redoubt in which will be immediately mounted 2-6.4 p.r. M. L. guns to fire on the opposite Chinese territory Sywan Hill. The defence above described being restricted to that of the Lyemoon Pass itself, it is considered that a few guns should be so placed as to command the water immediately outside the Pass and prevent a hostile squadron from disturbing the operations of a force for attacking the mines and their defences.\n\n3\n\n10\n\nIt", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 329560, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "page_number": 369, "title": "CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12]", "content_text": "# \n368\n\nIt is therefore proposed to construct on the Sywan Hill a redoubt in which will be mounted 2-6\" B.L. guns. These guns will also command the landing places in the immediate vicinity and the road from Stanley; and will further be available to search out the opposite Chinese headland. If Sywan Hill be not held, it would be difficult to defend Lyemoon Pass in the face of a landing in the vicinity. A position should be selected for 2 or 3 - 8 inch howitzers to combine with the 6\" B.L. guns in firing on ships outside the Lyemoon Pass.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-223 - Governor Sir Bowen Acting Governor Marsh & Others - 1885 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 331002, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6]", "page_number": 85, "title": "CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6]", "content_text": "18\n\n19\n\n83\n\nnumber of troops should have some training, so that 30 of them might be available at any time when a fire occurred. Of course it would have been a voluntary scheme, but the men refused to volunteer, though the scale of payment proposed was in the opinion of the Major General sufficiently liberal.\n\n11. The only other subject dealt with in the report of the Commission, to which I need here refer, is the construction of a Sanitarium at the Peak. It was proposed in 1883 to build on the only available site a station, which would at the same time be a Sanitarium, but General Sargent objected that the ground wanted for a redoubt. General Cameron has withdrawn the objection, on condition that the site and plan of the building should be approved by the Commanding Royal Engineer, in order that in case of need, the building might be taken over by the...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-227 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1886 [6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 332110, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12]", "page_number": 93, "title": "CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12]", "content_text": "Enclosure.\n\n22 dept\n\n(\n\n2. Copies of the Minutes of the Finance Committee containing my\n\nminutes asking the Council to vote these sums and the recommendations of\n\nthe Committee are annexed in explanation of these votes.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour\n\nmost Obedient,\n\nHumble Servant,\n\nY Z M\n\nEnclosure.\n\nNo. 19.\n\nFINANCE COMMITTEE.\n\nC.5.0.\n\n2001 of 1886. 6.8.0. 9204 of 1856.\n\nC5.0.\n\nĐề cử 2456.\n\nC. O. Desp. 106 of 1588.\n\nPRESENT:\n\nC. O.\n\n22602\n\nREC?\n\n91\n\nCOUNCIL CHAMPEECSS\n\nHONGKONG, 22nd September, 1886.\n\nThe Honourable the Acting Colonial Secretary, (FREDERICK STEWART), Chairman.\n\nHis Honour the Chief Justice (Sir GEORGE PHILLIPPO, Knt.).\n\nThe Honourable the Acting Attorney General, (Edward James ACKROYD),\n\nthe Colonial Treasurer, (ALFRED LISTER).\n\nthe Surveyor General, (JOHN MACNEILE PRICE).\n\nHENRY GEORGE THOMSETT, R.N.\n\nPHINEAS RYRIE.\n\nFREDERICK DAVID SASSOON.\n\nWONG SHING.\n\nJOHN BELL-IRVING.\n\nALEXANDER PALMER MACEWEN.\n\nThe Committee meet this day pursuant to arrangement.\n\nThe Minutes of the last Meeting, held on the 22nd July last, are read and confirmed.\n\n(1.) Read the papers in connection with a suggestion by His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES respecting an annual grant towards a permanent Colonial and Indian Exhibition.\n\nExtraordinary Public Works.\n\n(2.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:\n\nW. H. MARSH.\n\nThe objections raised in 1883 by the Military Authorities to the erection on Mount Gough of a permanent building as a Police Station have been withdrawn on the understanding\n\n1. That the Police Station is to be built on a plan to be approved by the Commanding Royal Engineer so that it may be used, in case of need, as barracks for soldiers to defend the redoubt which will be constructed;\n\n2. That if the Station is permanently taken over at any future time by the Military\n\nthe cost will be reimbursed to the Civil Government.\n\nI have therefore to ask the Council to vote the money necessary to construct barracks for the Police at Mount Gough in the place of the temporary thatched-shed, as soon as the hot season is over. The estimate for this work is $17,000. For this sum quarters will be provided for 1 married Officer or Sergeant, 6 Europeans, 6 Sikhs, and 6 Chinese. As the force required to be on duty at this Station is: 4 Europeans, 4 Sikhs, and 4 Chinese, there will be room for 2 convalescents of each class, and the Station will serve at the same time the purposes of a Sanitarium for the Police.\n\nGovernment House, Hongkong, 22nd September, 1886.\n\nThe Chairman states that this Minute will be laid before the Legislative Council in due course.\n\nEXCESS OF THE ESTIMATES FOR 1886.\n\nMiscellaneous Services.\n\n(3.) Read the following Minute by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government:\n\nW. H. MARSH.\n\nThe Officer Administering the Government recommends the Council to vote the sum of $435 for a compassionate allowance to Mrs. SAMPSON, widow of the late First Boarding Officer in the Harbour Department, being the equivalent of 3 months' salary and personal allowance of her late husband who was in the service of the Colony for nearly 18 years, and gave the highest satisfaction in the discharge of his duties.\n\nGovernment House, Hongkong, 28th August, 1886.\n\nBury", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 334009, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]", "page_number": 293, "title": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]", "content_text": "286\n\nMemo. for H.S. The Major Gent Com! :-\n\nUnauthorized persons have at times been seen on & about the Works; as soon as observed they have been ordered off in accordance with instructions issued by my predecessor, Colonel Walker.\n\nA good many of the works can be looked into from higher ground at a moderate distance, & a person provided with a telescope could see in this way a great deal of what was going on.\n\nAt the same time persons possessed of necessary knowledge & skill could certainly obtain much valuable information from a close inspection which they could not obtain so well from an outside view, & this would be especially the case as the works draw towards completion & the arrangements for Mounting & serving the guns & their limits of range, etc., can be seen. For the most part, however, the works here are only now approaching the state in which information could be acquired. Lyemun is the only instance in which Works of first importance have until now reached that stage & there has been a guard there for some time. A much more serious source of danger is in my opinion the selling of valuable information by the Chinese Contractors & Artisans whom we are forced to employ to carry out the work. We entrust these men with almost every particular of the work done; they are quite clever enough to give tolerably full information to the effects of Foreign Powers, & many of them would assuredly do so could they make thereby considerable profit if they sold it.\n\nWe have certainly not hitherto possessed the necessary means for effectually excluding strangers from the Works; our N.C.O.s & men employed on them do so as far as they can, but they are not there out of working hours or on Sundays. Many of the Works are in Batteries, of which some are eventually enclosed by an iron fence; & at Lyemun Redoubt for instance, which is enclosed by a ditch, the ditch has only just been far completed to form a barrier. Under these circumstances a great many men would have been required to guard the Works at first; as they approach completion, when precautions become necessary, fewer men of course are needed as there are fewer open points of access.\n\nSuffice it...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 334010, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]", "page_number": 294, "title": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]", "content_text": "At present, the number considered requisite to exclude strangers from the Works in progress is 7 made up as shown below; I have assumed that our own men cannot be always on the works, & that native Caretakers would be useless for the purpose.\n\nFly Point! Upper & Lower Belcher 1, Stonecutter West 2, South Shore Lyemun Redoubt 2, Central 1\n\nI would add that as far as my experience goes it is unnecessary to provide guards or sentries for unfinished Works, at any rate until the preparations for the forts are in an advanced state; if this rule were adopted the Sentries at Fly Point, Belchers Battery, & one of those at Stonecutter West might be dispensed with for the present, thus reducing the number to 4. Of course there will be still numerous places from which people can look into the Works, many of these places not being on W.D. property; to guard this would require a regular cordon around them, such as Fly Point, Belcher & Lyemun.\n\n10.5.87.\n\nCol. Ch\n\nExisting\n\n11/593/87\n\nRECR\n\nREGE 14 JUN\n\nKowloon Dock, & Stonecutter last, have guards & sentries by day & night. No unauthorised persons can have gained admittance to these, & there is no reason to suspect that such has been the case.\n\nThe guns in these Forts can easily be seen, mounted from the sea, at 200 yards or more. & the 2 first named forts are commanded by high ground which quite overlooks the work & guns.\n\nAbout 2 Months ago Stone-cutters commenced to move the gun-carriages, & platforms for the Reverse, Central, & West Batteries of Lyemun Fort to their respective positions; & he has to guard sentries to look after the Batteries, furnishing 2 Sentries by day & night, with orders not...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 338299, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888", "page_number": 227, "title": "CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888", "content_text": "## \n\nI am to request that you will cause to be prepared, and forwarded to me with as little delay as possible, a careful estimate of the probable expenditure required to complete all the works that are now in hand, and to mount the 9.2 B.L. guns which form part of the approved armament; and that you will telegraph the amount of such estimate as soon as ascertained.\n\nI have to observe that the provision of land defences did not form part of the scheme being carried out with the exception of the redoubt on Sywan Hill; and that it is considered that this redoubt and the howitzer emplacements below it might be postponed if necessary, as they could be quickly improvised in emergency.\n\nBy these omissions, and by strict economy in working, and miscellaneous expenses, it is hoped that it may be found possible to mount the whole of the B.L. armament.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 338371, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888", "page_number": 299, "title": "CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888", "content_text": "## Document on Seacroft House and Sandown Barrack Battery\n\nIn the year 1861, various owners' properties were acquired by the Secretary of State under the Defence Act, 1860 (23 & 24 Vict. c. 112), entitled \"An Act to make better provision for acquiring lands for the Defence of the Realm.\"\n\nNo notice was given under sections 7 to 9 of that Act requiring Seacroft House and grounds to be kept free from buildings and other obstructions, and the three-year limit imposed by section 35 within which the powers of removal conferred by section 34 must be exercised has long since expired.\n\nAt the time of the purchase of the Sandown Barrack Battery site in 1861, the site of Seacroft House was occupied by a thatched cottage erected about 1845. The battery was built sometime between 1861 and 1864, the cost being met out of the loan for the national defences. Seacroft House was built in the year 1872. The precise distance from the House to the nearest gun in the battery is 141 feet.\n\nThe battery is a redoubt with ditch and closed gorge. Its present object is to assist in the defence of Sandown Bay from a hostile landing. It mounts five guns which fire seaward. They are at present 64-pounders (muzzle-loading rifled), but it is proposed to mount larger guns. It has been usual to fire blank charges, but it is proposed to fire shot, when the concussion will be somewhat greater. The battery is at present used by the Isle of Wight Artillery Militia.\n\nThe quantity of ammunition to be used for practice firing is prescribed by regulation made by the Secretary of State for War, under section 4 of the Militia Act, 1882. No special means or appliances are adopted for diminishing the force of the concussion.\n\n### Regulation on Notifying Station and Battery Practice\n\n| Regulation | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| R.O. 30 | Practice (Station and Battery). Notice to be given to the neighbourhood regarding. |\n\nWhen practice is about to be carried on from works contiguous to buildings or private property which are likely to be injured by the concussion, due notice of such practice should be given in the neighbourhood, in order that precautionary measures may be taken by owners or occupiers to avoid damage. Notice must be given as circumstances may best determine, either by advertisements in the local newspapers (provided such publications are authorised by regulation), or by the Town Crier, but as little expense as possible should be incurred in so doing. As far as practicable, firing from such places should not take place when the wind is blowing in the direction of the houses or buildings likely to be affected.\n\nNo express authority is given by Parliament for expenditure of Public Funds in compensating for damage done to private property by the gun fire, but there is a vote in the Army Estimates (£2,000 this year), under the head \"Compensation for Losses,\" which it is presumed would be legally applicable for compensating such damage, supposing the Law Officers to consider that claims in respect of it are legal.\n\nIt is difficult, however, to see what remedy at law Mr. Wyley's trustees would have if Seacroft House were damaged by the concussion from the gun fire. See the reference to the rule \"Princeps et Respublica ex justâ causâ possunt rem mean auferre,\" in the Saltpetre case, and the remarks of Justice Buller in Governor, &c., v. Meredith, 4 Term, Rep. 797. The officers concerned carry on the gun practice in obedience to general orders, and if they carry out these orders with care and skill, and without negligence, it is presumed that they would not be liable to an action for the damage (Sutton v. Clarke, 6 Taunton 29). At any rate, they would not if the Secretary of State for War subsequently ratified their Acts, for that would make acts of State for which the Crown alone would be responsible (Buron v. Denman, 2 Exch. 167). And no petition of right would lie (Viscount Canterbury v. the Attorney-General, 1 Phillips 301, and Tobin v. the Queen, 11 C. B.-N.S. 310).\n\n### Legal Precedent\n\nIn the case of Hawley v. Steele (L. R., 6 Ch. Div., p. 521), where the plaintiff filed a bill against the General Officer in command at Aldershot to restrain him from using a rifle range acquired under the Defence Act, and for compensation, the Master of the Rolls refused to give range relief. He said, \"I take it to be clear that no man is entitled to use his land by allowing others to come upon it and make a noise which is really intolerable to his neighbours... if the defendant had been the owner of this land, and if the persons who caused that noise and vibration had not been troops of the Government, I should have had no hesitation in granting the injunction.\" The real question is whether the Legislature has authorised the act to be done.\n\nIn concurring in this decision, Baron Pollock said \"it would be extremely difficult to contemplate the use of land for military purposes which did not carry with it the right to fire guns.\" (Hill v. Metropolitan Asylum, 4, 2 B. D. 445).\n\nIt would appear from the above that the Courts of Law will not interfere by injunction to restrain the use by the Secretary of State of land or buildings vested in him as Trustee for the Crown for the purposes of the defence of the realm, unless such user be distinctly and outrageously unreasonable, having regard for the requirements of the Military Department, and the objects for which the land or buildings were acquired. Would then user of a battery for practice purposes with heavy ordnance, and in such a manner as would involve damage to private property in the proximity of it, be an unreasonable user?\n\nPage 38316\nPage 64\nA 52950.-38. \nA 2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-240 - Public Offices & Others - 1888.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 345454, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-249 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [1-5]", "page_number": 563, "title": "CO129-249 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [1-5]", "content_text": "J. Harris R.E.\n\n43.90\n\n1300002\n\nD\n\nField Redoubts\n\nConnecting Entrenchment\n\nObstacles\n\nCommunications connecting\n\nRedoubts\n\nKOWLOON\n\nMAL\n\n200\n\nMe\n\nS\n\nSix\n\nJ\n\n150\n\nCultiva from\n\n190\n\nFRONTIER\n\nSCALE 12 INCH TO 1 MILE\n\n300\n\n@.3.0\n\n646\n\n90\n\n150\n\n1 MILE\n\n558\n\nA\n\nto accompany may\n\nD. E. Wacheroton\n\nGetta\n\nLo R. E.\n\nR.E. Office\n\nto Colonial Secretary of State Colonel\n\n8/3/90\n\nof this date\n\nC. R.E. Chief", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-249 - Governor Des Voeus Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369434, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 22, "title": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "## \nbut a large amount of ammunition and two Nordenfelts from the Ordnance stores.\n\nStarting at 7, they were round by 8:30 a.m., and pushed right up to the head of Tytam inner harbour. The Swift moored head and stern, with her head about E.S.E., hauled close in to the rocky shore to the southward in less than two fathoms, being coals and provisioned, and their ammunition put on board. After consultation with the General, the Commodore had started them off at 7 a.m. round by D'Aguilar for Tytam Bay. De Horsey was in command of the Swift, with 25 of his own men, two R.N.R. officers from the Empress of India (Messrs Tootham and Roswald). Sub.-Lt. Dayley of the Plover was in charge of the Rattler with Mr Nartlew, Chief Boatswain of the Yard, and an R.N.R. officer (Mr Atkinson) from the Radnorshire, with the remainder of the Plover's crew,—60 merchant seamen R.N.R. and others were in the Swift, and 30 in the Rattler. Only one Engineer was sent in each vessel, Messrs Mallett and Irish respectively, as the ships had only to get to Tytam; for the same reason only a small supply of coal was put on board, and no great quantity of provisions and water, they were both flying light. She was protected to the southward by the rocky peninsula from fire from the bay. To attack her, vessels would have to come round the point exposed at two cables' distance to her whole port broadside. The Rattler was hauled further in towards Tytam Tuk, but on the northern shore in 9 feet—moored head and stern, head to the S.W. Her port broadside also swept the passage to the Swift, and her small Gardner in the foretop covered the Shaukiwan Road. Steam was only kept for the dynamos.\n\n| | |\n| --- | --- |\n| O | Ratt |\n| Ty Lam HS | |\n| Swift | |\n| Badou | |\n| Tytam Bay | |\n| Q | |\n| 5 | 10 cables. 1 mile |\n| 95 -- | |\n\nA party was landed to make a redoubt on the rocky hill south of the Swift, armed with the two Nordenfelts, a thousand Artillerymen, 7,000 men in all—the crews of the four vessels amounted to another thousand men. The redoubt commanded the cove to the south and the Shaukiwan Road to the right, as well as preventing the enemy pouring fire right down on to the deck of the Swift. The troopers were escorted by the three destroyers, Borgo, Revel, and Seaborg. The Orel, of the Russian volunteer fleet, had been despatched from Vladivostock on the 7th inst. for Saigon, as the French were short of transport. The Russian expedition left Vladivostock on the 15th, and going down outside-cast of Formosa, the allies were to rendezvous twenty miles south of the Gap Rock at 4 p.m. on the 23rd. Akinoff could or would give no details as to the French forces. As a fact, the French brought up 10,000 men in six ships, including the Orel (of 2,850 tons), conveyed by the cruisers Descartes and Eclaireur, and the foreign old ironclad Triomphante, the reserve ship in Saigon.\n\nThe Commodore, with the Master Attendant, towed down the nine German merchant steamers and the one French sailing ship (the Du Guesclin), and moored them in a double line across the Lyemun passage, heavy cables being passed along then, taken in astern and passed out of the hawse-holes forward. The ends were secured ashore. The shore ends being floated on cargo boats left no openings at all. The Harbour Master and Staff Commander Jones moored the eight other steamers and a Hawaiian barque similarly across the Sulphur Channel.\n\nWe wanted to torpedo boats in in the night. About 5 a.m., Dover (the Assistant Harbour Master) and Robinson (the senior boarding officer) were sent out in two launches, the Gladiator and Vancouver, to see what had become of the enemy. Robinson went into Picnic Bay in Lama Island, and had a long and hot walk over the hills. Dover kept on round by the Fast side of Lama, and coming round Green Hummock into S.E. bay, came plump on the Destroyer Sveaborg; she opened fire smartly on the launch, killing two men, and sinking the Gladiator before she could be turned round. Two of her crew ashore and succeeded in rejoining Robinson. The Seaborg proceeded South to the Gap Rock about 7 a.m.\n\nAmongst the wounded in our hands was General Akinoff, second in command of the Russian expeditionary force—the Commander in Chief, General Grombetchsky, had been killed. General Akinoff was quite willing to communicate the facts as to the Russian forces—they had consisted of the regiments of Nerehitusk and Tomsk and a small Russian regiment numbers 3,003—and the French forces—the French Commander-in-Chief, General Morbleu, assumed the supreme control. All the new arrivals began hoisting out torpedo and troop boats. The Eclaireur was despatched to the Eastward, where she subsequently captured the Sungkiang (Capt. Dodd) and the Verona (Capt. Tocque). The wounded were hoisted out for landing and tents to be... \n\nPage 21", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369435, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 23, "title": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "## THE FINAL ASSAULTS.\n\nAbout 2 p.m. the look-outs reported the departure of the Dordogne and Heungshun escorted by the Seaborg (which had returned with the French fleet) by the Shingshimoon Pass, round D'Aguilar and thence North, past the Ninepins, evidently bound to Mirs Bay. At 4 p.m. the three men-of-war assembled off Tytam Head, the Eclaireur escorting her prizes, the Verona and Sungkiung, the two latter being sent off to S.E. Bay, Lama Island. The Triomphante and Descartes proceeded slowly Westwards. The Eclaireur entered Tytam Bay, preceded by two torpedo boats, the first about three-quarters of a mile and the second about half-a-mile ahead of her. The Eclaireur stopped about three-quarters of a mile from the entrance to the Inner Harbour.\n\nIf they had contented themselves with watching the enemy from the redoubt on the hill, they would have done well, but unfortunately opening fire with their Nordenfelts on the hill, though they sank the other boat, they unmasked their battery. The Eclaireur at once rained a shower of shell on them, knocking the redoubt and the Nordenfelts to pieces, and killing half the men before they had time to run down the hill.\n\nAbout 2 p.m. the Hankow and Canton were seen to come out of the Capsuimoon pass, flying the British flag, and shape the usual course as if for Hongkong, and directly the loading boat rounded the point, going dead slow, she was blown to pieces by the fire of the Swift and Rattler. The Tommy Atkins, a military launch, was sent to where the wreckage floated and fortunately rescued both Captains Lloyd and Spencer Wilde, some dozen of the prizes' crews and a few Chinese were also picked up. The Hankow's passengers had been landed at Capsuimoon.\n\nCol. Yardhill was, however, so much impressed with the value of the redoubt on the hill that he sent De Horsey out another Nordonfelt in the evening, with orders to plant it just below the crest, on the West face, where it commanded the Shankiwan Road.\n\nThe Triomphante and Descartes, steaming slowly West, stopped between Round Island and Aplichau, and, firing at the new earthworks on the crests of the hills above Deep Water Bay, had their fire promptly returned by the 40-pounders in position, the same fatal mistake as was made at Tytam. Our guns were no match for those of the ironclad and cruiser. In half an hour four of our guns were dismounted, and the labour of the day—as far as the battery was concerned—wasted. Beyond knocking away some of the spars of the ironclad no material damage was done to her. The Descartes continued her attention to the guns at the Hacienda, dismounting both—but suffered somewhat herself from the plunging fire until the guns were silenced, part of her upper works and port bulwarks being knocked away, and damage was done to her quick-firers. Fernside, Genora, Kellett's Spur, and the houses on the East side of Mount Kellett were knocked into shapeless ruins.\n\nGeneral White ordered the guns above Deep Water Bay to be retired, otherwise every one would have been dismounted. The battery further East, commanding the Tytam Road, was sheltered from sea fire. Proceeding West outside Aplichau, the ships disabled three of the guns at Pokfolum Gap and demolished the stone wall across the road. One gun at Victoria Gap was dismounted, and the Tram station, which had escaped the Harbaroesk's fire, destroyed. It must be confessed that the ships made excellent practice, whilst great part of our fire was wasted. Our casualties amounted to six officers killed—of the Regulars two, both R.A. (Capt. Rawford and Lt. Hatthews), and four of the Home Guard—and 40 men, gunners and Home Guard. Wounded, 4 officers of the Home Guard, amongst them poor Cæsar Rawkins, and 27 men Regulars and Home Guard.\n\nIt had a very depressing effect on the Defenders; there was no element of personal strife, it was simply an Artillery duel in which we were hopelessly overmatched. Our losses were before our eyes, and the smell of blood in our nostrils. We could not see how, or if the enemy suffered, to cheer us up. That evening was pretty wretched; there were some attempts at jollity here and there; as you know the average Hongkong man of our day was cheery in the jaws of death—through which most of us passed in the next few hours—still we were so intermingled, the married men with the single, that for the most part the light-hearted were swamped by the heavy-hearted. Not that the latter fought one whit the worse next day—possibly better, though that could not be said either, where all did so well. It is impossible to deny, however, that the man whose hat covers his family can, and in some cases does, face inevitable death more cheerfully, than the man who leaves behind those that are dearer than life. The General, 'the soldiers, whose duty 'tis to die,' and some youngsters, got up a few songs; but on the whole the waiting was pretty wretched.\n\nThere was plenty of room in the Hospitals; already many of the cots and mattrasses had been vacated, and a temporary cemetery established in the West Borks parade ground, along the retaining wall of the Cathedral compound and below Beaconsfield House. As soon as it was dark we set to work repairing our earthworks, and taught by experience threw an embankment across the Pokfolum Road, in lieu of the stone wall destroyed, the splinters from which had been most destructive. Sungahs, or small redoubts, were thrown up on spurs, below the batteries on the hills.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369437, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 25, "title": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "## THE FINAL STRUGGLE.\n\nWay to Knutsford Terrace. Bowcroft place that they anticipated was in Tytam seized the Observatory and Banderson Harbour. The Heungshom, which had re- turned during the night from Mirs Bay, was loaded with men and run right on to the beach in Stanley. The Fatshan and the Honam were also respectively run into Chunghom and Tsimshui Wan bays; at the latter place the landing proved to be difficult, but as it was unopposed delay only ensued.\n\nAll the steamers were accompanied by torpedo boats. The life rafts and pontoons of the captured vessels were of the greatest assistance in rafting guns and ammunition ashore. The Pasig, escorted by six torpedo-boats and followed by the Eclaireur, entered Tytam Bay; the Eclaireur searching the crest of the hill with shell to see if the redoubt had been re-armed.\n\nIn the duel between the forts the Western had all been silenced, and only one 10\" gun in the Eastern could be fought when it was over. The torpedo depot was in ruins, the Admiralty coal depot, the Kowloon Godowns, and Tsim-Tea-Tsui Police Station were all one roaring mass of flames. Gigantic pillars of fire were soaring up from the petroleum tanks at Tai-kok-tsui, canopied by a dense pall of black smoke.\n\nChater's bungalow; there they fought with savage stubbornness from house to house in the Terrace, from room to room in the Bungalow and Observatory, till it seemed that assailants and assailed would be annihilated together. In hand-to-hand fighting the under-sized Crapauds were but a poor match for the long lean Pathans and beef-fed Britishers; moreover, the slight shelter our fellows had prevented the enemy overbearing them with weight of numbers and fire. About 10.30 the enemy drew off, when a few rounds from one of the Hung Hom forts crushed Bungalow, Observatory and Terrace into shapeless ruins as if they had been built of cards.\n\nDirectly the Pasig was round the point she was met by a storm of shell from the Swift; with her bows blown in, she sank within 50 feet of the stem of the Swift.\n\nThe few survivors of the British forces from the ruins attempted to make their way to Kowloon West; before, however, they could reach its shelter, the swarms of the enemy closed round and surged over the little scattered groups as they died fighting desperately, the victorious enemy rushing on to the ruined Western forts to be met by a feeble musketry fire from the remnants of the garrison. Directly, however, that the Jack was down, Rookshank from Stonecutter's East opened on them, literally blowing the enemy out of the fort--then, turning his attention to Hung Hom, soon silenced the sole surviving heavy gun there.\n\nFrom the island about 3 a.m. the enemy were observed to be moving out of S.E. bay. The only resistance at any landing was at Deep Water Bay...\n\nDe Horsey had fully expected that he would be torpedoed and made his preparations accordingly; one of his reasons for hauling his crafts into such shoal water, where they had scarcely a foot of water under their keels, he had further moored his vessels head and stern with anchors laid out broad on each bow and quarter, and hove his chains taut as bars. In addition he had lashed spars at intervals of about 30 feet perpendicularly to the side, through the ports, with their heels resting on the mud, so that the ships were practically on stilts.\n\nThe Swift had a great hole blown in her port quarter, but the blow having been a glancing one, the torpedo had not gone through her, or blown off the poop. The water rushing in the ship settled, tautening the lashings of the shores as she took the ground upright; still as a fighting machine or stationary battery she was uninjured. The Rattler, on the other hand, was cut in two and her after guns disabled.\n\nBy 7 a.m. the allies had 8000 men landed. The Demoures and Triomphante were vigorously engaging the batteries above Deep Water Bay, and searching the crest of the hills with time shell and shrapnel.\n\nTaught by experience the 'Hacienda' gun (only one had been replaced) did not reply and indicate her position till the Tai On entered the Aberdeen Passage, when it opened with such excellent effect that the vessel had to be beached on Aplichau sand, from whence the troops she conveyed had to be ferried across to Hongkong. Landing was also effected from two of the troopers in Telegraph Bay; here, however, the enemy suffered severely from the fire of light guns sent forward by Col. Rordon, who commanded at Pokfolum, Col. Yardhill commanded on the Tytam Road, where the heavy attack was expected. General White was in the centre.\n\nRordon was left severely alone till about 8 a.m., when the men-of-war appeared off Sandy Bay, battered his earthworks and dismounted his 40-pounders without suffering commensurate loss. By 9 the allies had every available man ashore,- 8,000 French regulars, 2,000 Russians, and nearly 1,000 seamen and marines from the ships of war and transports. Far from underrating the resistance, General Morbleu rated it high, and his estimate was amply justified. The main assault was on Yardhill's position, the enemy coming up the Tytam Road and along the crest of the eastern hills bounding the road.\n\nThe first discharge from the Swift had been the signal for the enemy some thousand strong to push along the Shaukiwan Road, when they were met by a fierce fire from the Nordenfelt in the redoubt below the crest of the hill and from the gun in the fore top of the Rattler. The remaining torpedo boats backing and turning, discharged their torpedoes again, struck the remains of the Rattler, bringing down her foremast, blew up the remainder of the wreck, and were themselves sunk by the Swift's fire. The Eclaireur had a number of troop boats in tow, but dared not let them proceed till the Swift's resistance had been overcome.\n\nThe two other boats both struck the Rattler abaft the funnel. One struck the Swift on the port quarter---a slanting blow---and was sunk herself; another also, as she shot past for the Rattler, was cut in two. The Rattler herself sank, and another running over the chain from the Swift's port quarter, lost her port propeller, and swinging round to port broadside on to the stern of the Swift was sunk by her fire.\n\nThe lashings of too many shores had however been cut, and the ship rolled over to port in deep water, swamping one of the cutters of the French as they boarded, killing and drowning both boarders and boarded.\n\nBy ... the allies had 8000 men landed...\n\nThe first discharge from the Swift had been the signal for the enemy...\n\nBy 9 the allies had every available man ashore.\n\nPage 30\nPage 31", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369438, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "## 32-\n\nDeep Water Bay. As usual they were left behind, would fire the trains and join very strong in artillery, here, however, his (Tanghorne's) men as they retreated. For once we had the advantage, our 40-pounders on the Tytam Road breastworks had taken their stations on the hills at midnight.\n\nThe enemy pressed to the and hill from Quarry Bay Gap to Poktolum assault with great vigour suffering heavily, was belching forth fire and smoke like so many angry volcanos, still the assault crept upwards, ever closer-nearer. Our vant-our position was practically impregnable. Ourloss by musketry fire from the hills above was comparatively trifling. Soon after 10, however, the enemy managed to get two 9-pounders up the hills, and then the situation changed. In half an hour we lost five and thirty men killed, two Maxims were disabled, and the walls were breached in several places. Our men had made some very pretty practice, and more than one French artilleryman had been knocked over at 900 and 1,000 yards on the crest of the hill. After Smith had signalled in answer to Tanghorne's orders that he had fired the mines, and he and the corporal had been seen to leave the forts, our people left the redoubt with the remaining Maxims in rear covering the retreat.\n\nThe forts blew up with tremendous explosions, breaking the chains and sinking some of the ships that had barred the pass. Smith and Brackenbury fired Shaukiwan as they came through to join Tanghorne, who also burnt Quarry Bay as he fought his way back, losing heavily. Tanghorne, with one Maxim, made his last stand at Tsatszemui Police Station, where they were finally all slain. Previous to this, however, he had sent Marshall and half-a-dozen men ahead to fire the Langkat oil depot at Whitfield.\n\nFurney had withdrawn his men East, and mined the galleries and arranged with Tanghorne that if the redoubt had to be evacuated, Sergt. Smith and Corporal Brackenbury, whom he had put in command, would fire the Magazine in a few minutes, after which they continued firing at the North Point Road whenever bodies of the enemy appeared, materially retarding the final storming of Tsatszemui Station.\n\n## 33 -\n\nIt becomes impossible to give any connected account of the battle or series of separate combats. Yardhill held his own bravely till he was killed shortly after noon—his position being by that time completely surrounded, every ridge and spur the enemy swarmed with, it must be admitted, the most reckless gallantry. The attack from below was successful, as it so often is when the assailants are prepared for an unlimited expenditure of life to attain their object, despair. There was no attempt made by the enemy to descend to the town, they realized that the stubborn foe on the heights had to be exterminated.\n\nThe enemy next crossed the line having been broken between Quarry Bay Gap and at Middle Gap. Up the hills in the saddle behind High West, and circled down in rear of Rordon's position—not, however, without heavy loss from the fire of Belcher's and Victoria Batteries. Soon every point of the hills was circled with fire, where our men were dying, fighting hopelessly but unflinchingly with the sullen ferocity of ... and we claimed the sacrifice to the uttermost tittle and fraction. General Morblon waxed very rueful afterwards when he saw the gaps in the European garrison of Indo China,--there were more gaps than garrison, and he had only gotten in exchange a mountain deluged with blood and a blazing town.\n\nThe attack crept up by more weight of numbers; where one of the enemy dropped, hydra-headed a score sprang up; where one of ours fell (some husband, father or brother who forty-eight hours before had been at a desk) there was none to fill the breach. What we lacked in numbers we made up in desperation and sullen fury.\n\nSome curious instances of the Berserk fury, or running amok as they call it in the Straits, occurred. Quiet, kindly men suddenly appeared to go mad, or were tired of waiting for death, jumped the parapets and dashed in amongst the men, roaring (possibly some old ancestor who had taken possession of them shouting his battle cry), escaping a heavy fire, and were not cut down till after doing great execution.\n\nThe men continued firing on any bodies of the enemy that were visible descending to the town. The coal and kerosine godowns at the eastern end of the town were blazing, as were also the Godowns at West Point. About 5 p.m. the men-of-war came through Lyeemoon, but were met off North Point by such a fire from the Stonecutters batteries that they were glad to retreat—the Descartes having to be beached in Shaukiwan to prevent her sinking in deep water. By sunset the blazing town was in the hands of the enemy, about 11 General White had been taken down mortally wounded and the supreme command had devolved on Yardhill. Although firing was still going on here and there on the hills, yet was the colony not...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 393579, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-324 - Governor Nathan - 1904 [10-12]", "page_number": 140, "title": "CO129-324 - Governor Nathan - 1904 [10-12]", "content_text": "139\n\nthe Military Reserve I find that the one to the North was granted as War Department land in 1859 and that the centre one on which the Barracks stand was so granted in 1891, the boundaries of the latter being subsequently slightly modified. It does not, however, appear that any formal documents were prepared except the plans. The Southern site was granted for a redoubt in 1894. It is not proposed to question the War Department's ownership to these sites.\n\n11. Deducting their area 80 acres there remains within the chain dotted line on the plan, of which a copy has been furnished to your Department by the War Office, an area of 142 acres which the Director of Public Works values as follows:-\n\nPremium:- 142 acres @ 3 cents per Square Foot.... $186,219.00\n\nCrown Rent:- 142 acres @ $100 per acre .... $14,250\n\nTotal.... $200,469.00\n\nand this at 25 years purchase.. $356,250.00\n\na valuation Mr. P. N. H. Jones states to be low in view of the extensive sea frontage of the site, its accessibility from Victoria by the recently opened tramway, and its obvious advantages as a Sanitarium.\n\n12. Pending the acceptance of this valuation by the Army Council the local Military Authorities have been put in exclusive possession of the land.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir,\n\nYour most obedient\n\nHumble servant,\n\nEnclosure 2. 4th October, 1904.\n\nP.S. Governor, &c..\n\nI annex a copy of a minute by Mr. E. H. Sharp, Attorney-General, endorsing the views expressed in paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Despatch.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-324 - Governor Nathan - 1904 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 393580, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-324 - Governor Nathan - 1904 [10-12]", "page_number": 141, "title": "CO129-324 - Governor Nathan - 1904 [10-12]", "content_text": "A. M. S.\n\nEnclosures.\n\n140\n\nC.O.\n\n33663\n\n&\n\nInstructions having been received from the War Office for the selection of a site for Howitzer emplacements on a spur to the N.E. of Sywan Hill, and His Excellency the Major-General Commanding having approved of the site shown in the accompanying plan 'A', I have the honour to request that the Colonial Government may be informed of this proposal, as well as of the proposed Infantry Redoubt on Sywan hill.\n\nIt would be desirable that the ground tinted yellow in the plan 'A' should be treated as a Military Reserve and that no portion of it should be alienated or disposed of on lease without the consent of the Military Authorities; it is not necessary, however, to interfere with quarrying operations except where they are likely to affect proposed works, or with cultivation except within the radius of 300 yards of occupied buildings already arranged for.\n\nI attach a further plan 'B' on an enlarged scale showing marked × two quarries which may interfere with the Howitzer emplacements. It is desirable that quarrying at these two places should be discontinued, or at any rate that a limit should be set beyond which it should not go; I shall be happy to consider in concert with the Surveyor-General where such a limit should be fixed.\n\n11th July, 1887.\n\n(Sd.) A. J. Storer,\n\nColonel, C.B.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-324 - Governor Nathan - 1904 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394349, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904", "page_number": 339, "title": "CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904", "content_text": "COPY.\n\nHong Kong.\n\nSir,\n\n21135\n\nHELP 337\n\nRG 15 JUN 04\n\nColonial Secretary's Office.\n\n26th July, 1887.\n\nIn reply to your letter No. 1292 of the 12th instant, enclosing a Memorandum by the Commanding Royal Engineer, relative to a site for Howitzer emplacements and an Infantry Redoubt on Swyn Hill;\n\nI have the honor, by direction of His Excellency the Acting Governor, to acquaint you, for the information of His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, that the Government consents to what is proposed on behalf of the War Department, namely, that the ground tinted yellow in the plan A, should be treated as a Military Reserve.\n\nI am to return Colonel Storer's Memorandum and accompanying plans and to request that copies of these two plans may be furnished, for record in the Public Works Department.\n\nI have etc.\n\n(Sd.) Frederick Stewart.\n\nActing Colonial Secretary.\n\nMajor Davies,\n\nAssistant Military Secretary.\n\netc.\n\netc.\n\netc.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394361, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904", "page_number": 351, "title": "CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904", "content_text": "PLANS\n\nHONG KONG\n\nSHEWING LANDS TO BE ACQUIRED\n\nBY W. D. AT LYEMUN\n\nLYE MUN\n\nPASS\n\nA KUNG NGAM\n\n1700 yds.\n\nHOWITZER\n\nBATTERY\n\nLYEM UN BAY\n\nGE\n\n[illegible]\n\nR\n\nLYEM UN\n\nRI\n\nFLE\n\nBARRACKS\n\n500 yds\n\n[illegible] yds.\n\n[illegible] yds\n\n+\n\nScale: 1:2500\n\n0 100 50 250 500 1000\n\nWD Boundary\n\nPosition Finding Station\n\nBATTERY\n\nREDOUBT\n\nWD. BOUNDARY\n\nCEMETERY\n\n2000\n\n22\n\n2400\n\n348", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 394362, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904", "page_number": 352, "title": "CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904", "content_text": "HONG KONG\n\nPLANS SHEWING LANDS TO BE ACQUIRED\n\nBY W. D. AT LYEMUN\n\nLYE MUN PASS\n\nHOWITZER BATTERY\n\nA KUNG NGÁL\n\n700 yds.\n\nLYEMUN BARRACK\n\nBaso yehy\n\nBoo\n\nLYE MUN BAY\n\nRIFLE RANGE\n\nDaroyed's\n\nHey Le Tag\n\nW.D. Boundary\n\nPUMPING\n\nSCALE 2500\n\nPosition Finding Station\n\nBATTERY REDOUST\n\n1600\n\n*R\n\n2409 Fact\n\nWYD. BOUNDARY\n\nCEMETERY\n\n349", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-325 - Public Offices & Others - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 396120, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "page_number": 202, "title": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "content_text": "## LIST OF SITES\n\n1. Practice Battery, Mount Davis, \n2. Electric Defence Light Emplacements, M. Lots 279, 280, \n3. Electric Defence Light Emplacement near Connaught and Des Voeux Roads, \n4. Belcher and Fly Point Batteries, Victoria Battery, \n7. Sanitarium, Magazine Gap, \n8. Murray Battery, \n9. Parade Ground, \n10. Wellington Barracks, Arsenal Yard, \n11. Military Cantonment, \n12. Hospital Site, Bowen Road, \n13. Spring Gardens \n14. North Point Battery \n15. Land at Lyemun and Sywan Bks., \n16. Sywan Redoubt, \n17. Building Land, Kowloon, 30.15 acres, Site of King's Park, \n18. Kowloon East Battery, \n19. Cantonment, Stanley, \n20. Kellet Island \n21. Kowloon East Battery, \n22. Land at Signal Hill, \n23. Whitfield Barracks, \n24. Parts of Stonecutters Island, \n25. I. L. 1565 Sikh Slaughter House, \n26. Tai Hang Rifle Range, \n27. Kowloon Dock Battery, \n28. Elliot Battery, \n29. Pinewood Battery, and proposed Reserve, \n30. Site below Bowen Road Hospital, \n31. Devil's Peak, etc., \n32. Ngau Tau Kok or Kowloon Peak Reserve, \n33. Gun Club Hill, \n34. Kowloon City Rifle Range and Reserve, \n35. Stonecutters Island, remainder of Island outside War Department plots, 140 acres, \n36. Cable Hut, Kowloon City, Authorised Encroachment. \n37. Cable Hut, Devil's Peak, \n38. Inland Lot 1621, Cattle Depôt, \n39. Mount Cochrane, \n40. Time Ball Station \n41. Four Garden Lots, Kowloon 21, 48, 49, 50. \n42. North Point Reserve, \n43. Areas (two) in R. C. Cemetery, \n44. Tank near Magazine, Kennedy Road, \n45. Reserve at Sywan, \n46. Mt. Austin Barracks, R. B. L. 64 \n47. Land at Kowloon \n\n## NOTES\n\n1. To be bought by War Department \n2. War Department \n3. Might be sold, see para. (12) \n4. War Department, see para. (4) \n5. War Department \n6. War Department \n7. War Department \n8. (Site included in another entry) \n9. ... \n10. ... \n11. ... \n12. Might be sold, see para. (12) \n13. Might be sold, see para. (13) \n14. ... \n15. ... \n16. War Department \n17. War Department, see para. (4) \n18. War Department \n19. War Department \n20. War Department \n21. War Department \n22. War Department \n23. War Department \n24. War Department \n25. War Department \n26. War Department \n27. War Department \n28. War Department at Arbitrators' price, $348,510. See para. (7) \n29. War Department at Arbitrators' price, $125,489. See para. (7) \n30. War Department at Arbitrators' price, $41,500. See para. (7) \n31. $3,850, see para. (7) \n32. ... \n33. ... \n34. Granted to War Department for 10 years, when a new Range if required must be provided. See para. (14) \n35. ... \n36. Authorised War Department Encroachment \n37. Do. \n38. Held by War Department on a deed \n39. To be sold to Colonial Government, $15,518. See para. (7) \n40. To be sold to Colonial Government, $43,005. See para. (7) \n41. Proposed to be sold to War Department at the rate of 1 cent per foot square. The Prison buildings to be paid for, $30,000. See para (3) \n42. To be sold to Colonial Government, $135,759. See para. (2) \n43. To be sold to Colonial Government, $819,770. See para. (2) \n44. To be sold to Colonial Government, at half the rate per acre of the above area, but only land not used as Park to be paid for. See para. (2) \n45. Proposed to lease. Land actually now required is to become War Department property. See para. (4) \n46. Reserved for burial of R. C. soldiers. Not War Department property \n47. War Department. In use \n48. Has reverted to Colonial Government. Reserved for 21 Barrack scheme which was not carried out. See para (8)\n\nIf it be desired to transfer a piece of land from the second to the first category, as for example to build a barrack, it should be valued as if in the open market. It is suggested that the rent payable by the War Department to the Colonial Government should be $1 per acre or part of an acre per annum in the old Territory and 25 cents per acre per annum in the new part, with a minimum rent of $1.\n\nIt should be borne in mind that land in the Leased Territory is not freehold but can only be held for a term of 99 years from 1st July, 1898, while existing War Department land is freehold and therefore more valuable.\n\nThe following is believed to be a complete list of all War Department Lands, Reserves, and Authorised Encroachments from the Colonial Government in Hong Kong, with a short note against each shewing the present status, and what it is proposed to do with it.\n\nSuch cases as require it are afterwards dealt with at more length.\n\nThe order is taken from a Table prepared by the Colonial Works Department in June, 1904, so far as it goes.\n\n| Site # | Description | Notes |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | Practice Battery, Mount Davis | To be bought by War Department |\n| 2 | Electric Defence Light Emplacements, M. Lots 279, 280 | ... |\n| 3 | Electric Defence Light Emplacement near Connaught and Des Voeux Roads | $3,850, see para. (7) |\n| 4 | Belcher and Fly Point Batteries, Victoria Battery | War Department |\n| 7 | Sanitarium, Magazine Gap | ... |\n| 8 | Murray Battery | ... |\n| 9 | Parade Ground | ... |\n| 10 | Wellington Barracks, Arsenal Yard | War Department |\n| 11 | Military Cantonment | ... |\n| 12 | Hospital Site, Bowen Road | ... |\n| 13 | Spring Gardens | Might be sold, see para. (12) |\n| 14 | North Point Battery | War Department |\n| 15 | Land at Lyemun and Sywan Bks. | War Department, see para. (4) |\n| 16 | Sywan Redoubt | War Department, see para. (4) |\n| 17 | Building Land, Kowloon, 30.15 acres, Site of King's Park | To be sold to Colonial Government, $819,770. See para. (2) |\n| 18 | Kowloon East Battery | War Department |\n| 19 | Cantonment, Stanley | War Department |\n| 20 | Kellet Island | Might be sold, see para. (12) |\n| 21 | Kowloon East Battery | War Department |\n| 22 | Land at Signal Hill | War Department |\n| 23 | Whitfield Barracks | War Department |\n| 24 | Parts of Stonecutters Island | War Department |\n| 25 | I. L. 1565 Sikh Slaughter House | Not War Department. Proposed for sale, $81,350, see para. (6) |\n| 26 | Tai Hang Rifle Range | To be transferred free. See para. (2) |\n| 27 | Kowloon Dock Battery | War Department Reserve. Part to be sold to Colonial Government, $172,345. See para. (6) |\n| 28 | Elliot Battery | War Department at Arbitrators' price, $348,510. See para. (7) |\n| 29 | Pinewood Battery, and proposed Reserve | War Department at Arbitrators' price, $125,489. See para. (7) |\n| 30 | Site below Bowen Road Hospital | War Department at Arbitrators' price, $41,500. See para. (7) |\n| 31 | Devil's Peak, etc. | $3,850, see para. (7) |\n| 32 | Ngau Tau Kok or Kowloon Peak Reserve | ... |\n| 33 | Gun Club Hill | Granted to War Department for 10 years, when a new Range if required must be provided. See para. (14) |\n| 34 | Kowloon City Rifle Range and Reserve | Desirable to lease this |\n| 35 | Stonecutters Island, remainder of Island outside War Department plots, 140 acres | Authorised War Department Encroachment |\n| 36 | Cable Hut, Kowloon City | Authorised Encroachment |\n| 37 | Cable Hut, Devil's Peak | Do. |\n| 38 | Inland Lot 1621, Cattle Depôt | Held by War Department on a deed |\n| 39 | Mount Cochrane | To be sold to Colonial Government, $15,518. See para. (7) |\n| 40 | Time Ball Station | To be sold to Colonial Government, $43,005. See para. (7) |\n| 41 | Four Garden Lots, Kowloon 21, 48, 49, 50 | Proposed to be sold to War Department at the rate of 1 cent per foot square. The Prison buildings to be paid for, $30,000. See para (3) |\n| 42 | North Point Reserve | To be sold to Colonial Government, $135,759. See para. (2) |\n| 43 | Areas (two) in R. C. Cemetery | To be sold to Colonial Government, at half the rate per acre of the above area, but only land not used as Park to be paid for. See para. (2) |\n| 44 | Tank near Magazine, Kennedy Road | Proposed to lease. Land actually now required is to become War Department property. See para. (4) |\n| 45 | Reserve at Sywan | Reserved for burial of R. C. soldiers. Not War Department property |\n| 46 | Mt. Austin Barracks, R. B. L. 64 | War Department. In use |\n| 47 | Land at Kowloon | Has reverted to Colonial Government. Reserved for 21 Barrack scheme which was not carried out. See para (8) |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 396121, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "page_number": 203, "title": "CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6]", "content_text": "# LIST OF SITES.\n\n4\n\nThe following 15 sites were proposed by Colonel STORER in 1891 as Military Reserves. See para. (10.):-\n49. (1) West of Belchers P. F. Cells,\n50. (2) Belcher. Site for movable armament,\n50. (3) Site for Redoubt, etc., near Belcher,\n52. (4) Belcher-Land east of P. F. Cells,\n53. (5) Surrounding Victoria Battery,\n54. (6) Summit of High West,\n55. (7) Summit of Mount Gough,\n56. (8) Summit of Mount Kellet,\n57. (9) Sanitarium Reserve,\n58. (10) Summit of Mt. Cameron,\n59. (11) Summit of Mt. Nicholson,\n60. (12) Reserve East of North Point Battery,\n61. (13) Land surrounding Kowloon East and Dock Battery,\n62. (14) Kowloon. Existing Lines of Defence and ground required for Field Firing & Military Exercises,\n63. (15) Kowloon Frontier-Land surrounding the proposed forts,\n64. Wong-nei-cheong Battery,\n\n## NOTES.\n\n| Site | Note |\n| --- | --- |\n| (1) | Not now required. Colonial Government land. |\n| (2) | Not now required. Colonial Government land. Superseded by Pinewood. |\n| (3) | Not required. Colonial Government land. |\n| (4) | Not required. Colonial Government land. |\n| (5) | Never treated as a Reserve, but the land is kept clear. Colonial Government land. |\n| (6) | Considered as lapsed to Colonial Government. |\n| (7) | Do. Do. |\n| (8) | Occupied before 1891. Proposed to be rented as a Military Reserve. See para. (9). |\n| (9) | Considered as lapsed to Colonial Government. |\n| (10) | Do. |\n| (11) | Has reverted to Colonial Government. See 34. |\n| (12) | Was occupied before 1891. See 33, 41, 42, 43. Reserves existing before 1891. See para. (2). |\n| (13) | Has lapsed to Colonial Government. |\n| (14) | War Department, not yet valued. |\n| (15) | |\n| Wong-nei-cheong Battery | |\n\n## FURTHER DETAILS OF THE METHODS PROPOSED FOR DEALING WITH SOME OF THE SITES.\n\n(1.) The items in the Table against which a price has been inserted are taken from the Table prepared by the Colonial Secretary dated 4th April, 1903; approved by a Conference at the Treasury dated 13th October, 1903; enumerated in Colonial Office letter 15th January, 1904; and not objected to by the Acting Governor in his letter dated 9th March, 1904. These prices are therefore assumed to be correct and final.\n\n(2.) Military Reserves in Kowloon, Nos. in Table 33, 41, 42, 43.-Part of the land is considered to be dealt with in the manner stated in the 1st para., that is to say-\n(a.) Gun Club Hill is to be definitely vested in the War Department free of cost.\nThe nominal value of $1 per acre which was originally proposed is not considered desirable.\n\nand (b.) the Garden Lots 21, 48, 49, 50 are to pass to the Colony at a value of $135,750 and the Building Area along the King's Park, 30.15 acres, at a value of $319,770.\n\nThe difficulty lies in dealing with the land set aside for the King's Park for which the War Department demanded a sum of $493,177.\n\nThe solution proposed for this problem is not to charge the value put on the land so long as it is used as a Park. If any of it is alienated to other purposes a proportional payment to be made.\n\nA charge has consequently been inserted for the new road running North of the Gun Club Hill barracks. This is clearly constructed in the commercial interest of Kowloon-not for recreation. The area of this road lying within the land set aside for the Park is approximately 5 acres 1 rood 24 poles, and its value at half the rate as the Building Area of 30.15 acres, which is that at which the King's Park area has been valued, is $28,597, which forms a deduction from the total price.\n\nIt is observed that the sum set down for the value of the Park, requires to be checked. It is arrived at by the initial assumption that the total area of the Park is 93 acres, but this has never been accurately delineated. When this is done, the total area is to be taken and the value per acre put upon it to be half that on the 30.15 acres of building land. Half the value is taken because half the site is assumed to be Rifle Range, which is dealt with on other terms.\n\n(3.) Stonecutters' Island, Nos. in Table, 24, 41.\n\nThis is largely Military land already. The War Department owns six battery and barrack sites and has made all the roads.\n\nThe Colonial Government use a portion of the old Prison, which has been partly pulled down, as a Magazine. This is being replaced by another in Green Island.\n\nThey had the intention of reconstructing the Prison on this site. If the Island be taken over by the War Department, land will have to be provided for it elsewhere.\n\nThe Navy use a Rifle Range along the North shore. This land is Colonial Government property. If the Island be taken over by the War Department the Naval occupation of the Range should not be interfered with, but it should be provided that if the Navy no longer require it, it should revert to the War Department.\n\nIn consideration of the value of the position and of the cost to the Colony of providing a fresh site for the Prison it is proposed that a price of 1 cent per square foot be debited to the War Department for exclusive rights over the whole Island. The area of the Island exclusive of War Department property is 140 acres and the price therefore is $60,984. The Colony to have the right to the re-transfer of the 140 acres at the same rate if hereafter surrendered by the War Department.\n\nThe old Prison buildings have been estimated as having a value of $30,000 and would be paid for by the War Department at that price.\n\n(4.) Syuan Reserve No. in Table, 45.\n\nFor this land the Colonial Authorities ask $542,460 and the War Department offers $143, i.e., $1 per acre. It is perfectly certain that the War Department will not pay over £50,000 merely to keep strangers from approaching the Batteries. Even if this were made a paper entry, which would hardly be possible to be done with the whole sum, it would not be an even exchange of values. The War Department already possesses all the Battery and Barrack sites, since the 6-inch gun Battery was built by the Colony and the site was part of the contribution.\n\nIt is not disputed that the War Department has the land as a Reserve. It has therefore only to sit still in order to deprive the Colony of all use of it, although at the same time it could not secure the Batteries against intrusion in a satisfactory manner.\n\nIt is now proposed that the land should be rented as a Military Reserve and a fence put up as an encroachment. In this way the War Department would obtain the power to keep off strangers. They would, however, if they wished to purchase any land, have to pay for it at building value. This would probably not lead to any great expenditure in the future as it is hardly possible that the War Department would ever require any large portion of the total area. The Batteries and the land around them are already War Department property: the land round the new 6-inch gun Battery requires delimiting.\n\n5 \nPage 199", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-328 - Governor Nathan - 1905 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 446765, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-408 - Public Offices & Others - 1913", "page_number": 300, "title": "CO129-408 - Public Offices & Others - 1913", "content_text": "Rehall \n\nbring the line of defence, with the forcible holding of big guns, into the regiment \n\nthe Peninsula Large Military exercises each such redoubts with seriously. \n\nprejudice \n\nthe \n\ndevelopment \n\nof the peninsula, while \n\nclearance \n\nIn useima \n\n288 Clare Priory. \n\nSuffolk. \n\nrights the applied to the harbour surroundings each redoubt might have an \n\n...\n\nbaneful effect. \n\nCommercial development. \n\nI think it will however be therefore to commit the \n\nPage 300\n\nPage 301", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-408 - Public Offices & Others - 1913.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 482317, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919", "page_number": 365, "title": "CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919", "content_text": "\"6\n\nany documents of record referring to saltpetre, as the substance was then obtained in increased quantities from India. In any case, the right to take saltpetre was described as a purveyance,\" and purveyances were abolished in 1660 by the statute 12 Charles II., chapter IV. Since the reign of James I., when the case of saltpetre was resolved by all the judges of England, the methods of scientific warfare have vastly increased, For the safety and security of the kingdom, permanent forts and works have to be constructed, great naval, military and aerial organisations have to be maintained, requiring many depôts, and a very large staff of officials to provide for manufacture and supply of every kind, pay and control. It was found necessary to resort to Parliament to obtain powers to enable the executive Government to carry out effectively the proper protective measures, and from an early date the permanent acquisition of land, or the temporary occupation and use of it for such a period as the exigence of the public service shall require, has been regulated and provided for by statute. At first separate statutes were passed for the acquisition of particular properties for forts, batteries, naval harbours, and the like.\n\nThen, in times of national danger, during the Napoleonic Wars, statutes were passed regulating the taking possession of and user of land, but the operation of such statutes was limited in duration to the period of the French War.\n\nThe next step was to consolidate the provisions into a permanent Defence of the Realm Act, allowing land to be permanently acquired or temporarily occupied, subject to certain restrictions, where the owners did not agree to the Crown's proposal. Then when a state of war again arose, statutes were passed enabling regulations to be made for relieving against these restrictions. This is a general outline of the course of legislation, but it will be necessary to refer to these statutes in detail.\n\nIt was urged on behalf of the Crown during the argument, that where in the past lands had been taken over, occupied or used, in connection with the defence of the realm, and military occupations connected therewith, there was not any legal obligation on the part of the Crown to pay anything, but that commissions had been issued from time to time to determine what payments should be made by the Crown ex gratia, and that on a search being made, particulars of these commissions could doubtless be obtained, and the case stood over from time to time to enable the records to be searched and information obtained with regard to (a) Acts of interference by the Crown with private property in land for the purpose of the Defence of the Realm. (b) Claims by subjects for compensation in respect of such interference (1) as a matter of right, (2) as a matter of grace and as to the basis of such claims. (c) The manner in which such claims were dealt with and the results thereof. The result of the searches which have been made is that it does not appear that the Crown has ever taken the subject's land for the defence of the country without paying for it, and even in Stuart times I cannot trace any claim by the Crown to such a prerogative. A considerable search in the records has been made, and the results appear in the book of \"Extracts from our Public Records.\" The time covered by the search may be divided into three periods. First before 1708, secondly between 1709 and 1798, thirdly, subsequent to 1798.\n\nIn the first period instances are given of land being required for fortifications, for mounting guns, and otherwise for the defence of the country, but the land taken or occupied was paid for. This 1668, it was determined to construct two new batteries at Chatham for the better security and safety of His Majesty's Navy in that Harbour,\" and instructions These contain a on the subject were given by the Board of Ordnance. direction (page 21 of \"Extracts\"), \"You are to contract for and buy such\n\nPage 7\n\nand so much parcel of ground at each of the aforesaid places of the owners and proprietors thereof as will serve to build the said batteries or redoubts upon and at the cheapest rates you and they can agree for.\" Again, in 1681 there was a proposal to erect a new fortification at Hull, and there is a minute of the Board of Ordnance, dated 1st September 1681 (page 9, \"Extracts\"), with regard to inquiries as to the measures taken for the new works at Plymouth, and \"after what method the owners of those lands were satisfied and paid for the same\"; and also \"To see what statutes there are concerning taking up of people's lands for building of fortifications thereupon.\" The Royal authority for executing the work at Hull appears (page 37 of the \"Extracts.\") It contains a provision that \"If any ground which is not our own shall be found necessary to be taken in for this service, we do hereby authorise and empower you to cause the same to be contracted for and bought of the owners at the cheapest rates the same may be had.\"\n\nThe second period begins in 1708. It appeared then to be fully recognised that the land of a subject could not be taken against his will, except under the provisions of an Act of Parliament. Accordingly in 1708 was passed the first of a series of Acts to enable particular lands to be taken compulsorily. By the Statute 7 Anne, Chapter 26, which recites that it was necessary to enlarge and strengthen the fortifications of Portsmouth, Chatham, and Harwich, and to purchase lands for the purpose, and that some proprietors desiring to make an unreasonable gain to themselves might insist on extravagant rates, provision is made for the appointment of Commissioners to survey lands to be purchased, and in default of agreement with the owners the true value is to be ascertained by a jury. Between 1708 and 1798 we were informed by counsel for the Crown that every case of taking or occupying land was covered by the wide provisions of the Acts passed from time to time, so that there was not any room for the exercise of any alleged prerogative during the period. The third period dated from 1798. On the 5th April 1798 was passed the Statute 38 George III., Chapter 27. This Act recites that it is expedient that provision should be made to enable His Majesty to procure ground which may be wanted for erecting batteries, beacons, and other works which may be deemed necessary for the public service, and also to provide for the indemnity (in certain cases) of persons who may suffer in their property by measures which may be taken for the defence and security of the country and annoyance of the enemy. This Act then provides by section 10 that His Majesty may authorise persons to survey and mark out any ground wanted for the public service, and to treat and agree for the possession or use thereof during such time as the exigence of the service shall require, and in default of agreement the compensation is to be ascertained by a jury, and with a restriction upon taking without the consent of the owners, unless the enemy shall have actually invaded the kingdom at the time when the piece of ground shall be so taken. By section 22 the Act was to have continuance during the war with France.\n\nBy Statute 43 George III., Chapter 55 (passed 11th June 1803), intituled \"An Act to enable His Majesty more effectually to provide for the defence and security of the realm during the present war,\" power was given to His Majesty to survey and mark out ground wanted for the public service, and to treat and agree for the possession and use of it during such time as the exigencies of the service should require, and in default of agreement the compensation to be paid for the possession or use was to be ascertained by a jury. Section 22 shows that the Act was confined to present hostilities with France.\" Doubts arose as to whether this Act extended to authorise the absolute purchase and taking of lands for permanent purposes, and accordingly next year was passed the Act 44 George III.\n\nPage 8", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579373, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946", "page_number": 52, "title": "CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946", "content_text": "18.12.41\n\n52\n\nDate.\n\nDistrict.\n\n9. Aberdeen.\n\nTime.\n\n15.00 : 10. Police H. Q. & Central.\n\n11. Shaukiwan.\n\n12. Quarry Bay.\n\n19.30 19.30\n\n13. Bay View.\n\n20.30\n\n39. Mortar shelling from an east-north-easterly direction commenced, chiefly directed at Ap Lei Chau and the main road west of Aberdeen. Throughout the day raids became more frequent, the bombs being directed chiefly at the Naval Dockyard and harbour.\n\nReinforced sentry posts were manned from this date onwards. The construction of sandbag redoubts was commenced.\n\nThe shelling of the waterfront along King's Road became intensified, accompanied by heavy machine-gun fire. Ex-Police Sergeant Jessop, watchman at the Taikoo Docks, came to Quarry Bay chargeroom and reported that the Japanese had landed at the Taikoo Docks. All the European and Asiatic Police were formed into two groups under Inspectors O'Connor and Post respectively. Both groups proceeded with fixed bayonets to King's Road, one on each side of the street, where fighting was already in progress. Police formed up together and were awaiting further instructions when a hand grenade or bomb was thrown amongst them, causing them to scatter. L.S.A.175 Jack, who describes this incident, did not see either Inspectors again after this. He joined some Indian Troops and opened fire on the advancing Japanese. After about half an hour, seeing no Police, he returned to Quarry Bay Station, where he found Sub-Inspector Johnson and L.S.A.92 Porritt, the latter having been seriously wounded by a hand grenade. P.S.A.45 Loughlin, P.S.A.19 Hill, L.S.A.78 Campbell, and L.S.A.1 Ross were also present. A Military Officer arrived and ordered Police to retreat. Sergeants Ross and Campbell left first, carrying Sgt. Porritt in a basket chair. Sub-Inspector Johnson and Sgt. Jack followed afterwards, carrying a wounded Indian soldier. They tried to obtain first aid for him but failed. Sub-Inspector Johnson then left to speak to an officer, and Sgt. Jack did not see him again. He supported and dragged the Indian along until the latter died and then met an officer who asked him to guide him to Sanitorium Pass.\n\nProceeding up the hill, he noticed Sgts. Ross and Campbell still carrying Sgt. Porritt. A few hundred yards from the pass, he found a party of Volunteers under Mr. Murphy, formerly Assistant Crown Solicitor, and some Indian soldiers and Police. The Japanese attacked, and he took part in a fight, including bayonet work, which eventually, after about one hour, ended in our troops retreating. He was left alone and proceeded to Stanley Terrace, where he had a deep gash in his leg dressed by an R.A.M.C. Orderly; he then reported to Stanley Police Station. (By this time, it was 09.30 hours the next day). He eventually returned to Police Headquarters via the Aberdeen Road, as Repulse Bay Road and Wong Nei Chung were impassable.\n\nL.S.A.179 Morrison at the Hong Kong Electric Vital Post noticed ten to twelve invasion barges crossing from Kowloon Bay to Taikoo Sugar Refinery. The defences at the Electric Company, consisting of about fifteen members of the Special Defence Group under Major Patterson, about twenty members of the Hong Kong Electric and China Light & Power Company, and about ten Rajputs under an Indian Sergeant, opened fire. The enemy on the barges replied with tracer machine-gun bullets. Major Patterson reported to Military Headquarters.\n\nAt about 20.45 hours, it was noticed from the Hong Kong Electric that the Japanese effected a landing at the Sugar Refinery. At about 22.00 hours, Japanese troops approached the east wall of the Hong Kong Electric from the land, despite Indian troops who had manned a barricade in King's Road. At about 23.30 hours, the Indian troops withdrew from King's Road.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579375, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946", "page_number": 54, "title": "CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946", "content_text": "Date. District.\n\nTime.\n\n4.\n\nQuarry Bay.\n\n19.12.4.\n\n39.\n\nSH\n\nplatoon of which he, Sgt. Fox, was a member had gone forward in lorries at midnight as a result of the report of the landing but had been dispersed with heavy casualties.\n\n03.00 Inspector Kirby who was on duty at No.9 Stanley Terrace looking after European women and children of the Taikoo Docks heard sounds of fighting taking place between our troops and the Japanese.\n\n5.\n\nAberdeen.\n\nDay-\n\n6.\n\nQuarry Bay.\n\n7.\n\nBay View.\n\n8.\n\n9.\n\nWestern. Bay View.\n\nAn air raid took place followed by a trench mortar bombardment.\n\n07.00 Inspector Kirby was captured by the Japanese who came to Stanley Terrace, and he was taken together with the British women and children from the Docks to King's Road and eventually placed in the North Point Refugee Camp. Whilst in King's Road a Russian Police Sergeant with a No.337 on his tunic acted as interpreter for the Japanese and appeared Anti-British in his attitude.\n\n07.30 Indian troops were observed retiring from the Tai Hang Hills followed shortly by the enemy. The Officer in Charge kept Mr. Heath, No. 2 Sub Area Commander, informed of the position. At first he was instructed by Mr. Heath to defend the station as long as possible and then to surrender but later Mr. Fay, Assistant Superintendent of Police, told the Officer in Charge to evacuate. Police at Vital Posts in the district could not be notified and withdrawn as they were behind the advancing Japanese. The station was evacuated from the rear when the enemy were actually entering the tennis court in front. Personnel proceeded to No. 2 Station under machine gun fire but suffered no casualties.\n\nThe\n\n07.30 The bombing of Kennedy Town and Felix Villas continued.\n\n08.30 L.S.A.68 Campbell was wounded in the left arm by bullet splinters in Tin Hau Temple Road. He had driven a Mr. Ablong there in a car to distribute some rice when he saw Japanese troops advancing and after the former was killed he had to abandon the car. Shortly after this he received his wound.\n\n10.\n\n11.\n\nHong Kong.\n\nWestern.\n\n09.00 General air raids commenced.\n\n12.\n\nUpper Levels.\n\n13.\n\nGough Hill.\n\n14.\n\nHong Kong Traffic Office.\n\n15.\n\nStanley.\n\n16.\n\nPolice H.Q. & Central.\n\n09.15 Mount Davis and Belchers Fort suffered severe bombardment. The remainder of the district west of Whitty Street was also shelled. Pokfulam Road from the University past Ricci Hall came under heavy shell fire. The Northcote Institute and Ricci Hall sustained damage.\n\nSeveral shells dropped short into the district. One unexploded shell went through the tent of the Police Reserve on Vital Post duty at Elliott Filter Beds. The men however stuck to their post without panic.\n\nThe Matilda Hospital was heavily shelled.\n\nAs the result of the news being received of the Japanese landing, nearly all the Chinese drivers of essential service vehicles absconded, taking away their vehicles when possible.\n\nP.S.A.69 Simpson, the Officer in Charge, was informed by the Indian Sergeant in charge of Tai Tam Vital Post, H.43, that the enemy were on the hillside near the site of the old sanitorium. He proceeded to the Post and after verifying the accuracy of the information gave instructions to the Police that they were to evacuate the post when the British troops retired. He informed the Inspector on Duty/Central of the position.\n\nThe sandbag redoubts for the defence of the Gloucester Building and Pedder Building were re-built in order to strengthen them. A new one was built outside Messrs. Jardine Matheson & Co's Head Office, which had been", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-4 Reports on current situation- Police 14-11-1945 - 1-7-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]