HONGKONG.
REPORTS ON THE HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.
Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of
His Excellency the Governor.
HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.
ANNUAL INSPECTION OF
313
No. 22
95
HEAD QUARTER OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 19th April, 1895..
SIR-I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I personally made the annual inspection this year of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps in regard to which I have to report as follows:
Both branches of the Corps are now in a state of efficiency. The turn-out of the men and their drill was most satisfactory. The Officers know their drill fairly well and are zealous in the perform- ance of their duties. The guns, small arms and equipment are well kept up, the maxim guns looking particularly serviceable.
With reference to the annual report of the Commandant which, with its enclosures, I forward herewith, I have much pleasure in bringing to Your Excellency's notice the increase in the number of members during the year from 95 to 112, and also the increase in the number of efficients by 24, facts which indicate a very satisfactory progress which, I trust, will be continued.
The several changes which I had the honour to recommend last year have been carried out with markedly satisfactory results.
The substitution of coolie draft for ponies has been a complete success.
The appointment of an experienced Quarter-Master Sergeant has added much to the efficiency of the Corps.
The handing over by the Government to the Corps of the complete building in which its Head- quarters are situate-thus enabling the members to feel that the Corps has a home of its own, with space for all its requirements social as well as official-has largely tended to place the Corps on that permanent footing which was so much required.
If the funds will admit of it, I quite endorse the Commandaut's recommendation for khakee clothing and brown belts and slings to be substituted for the present white drill clothing and buff belts and slings of the Field Battery, but as regards his proposal for extending the drill season over a long period I should advise a longer test of the present system which was adopted after much consideration as being the best adapted to the peculiar local circumstances, and the elasticity of which--as provided for in existing regulations-seems to have been hardly availed of to the full extent.
The post of Acting Commandant which had been so long and ably held by Colonel JERRARD, to whom to a great extent the success of the Corps is due, has been well filled by Major PEMBERTON, 1st Rifle Brigade, who has entered with much zeal into the work in which he has had a large experi- ence as Adjutant of Volunteers in England; and the Corps is to be congratulated upon having the services of such a capable officer.
This my final report on the Hongkong Volunteers would not be complete without bringing specially to Your Excellency's notice the very valuable services rendered by my Aide-de-Camp, Cap- tain MURRAY, in having organized and commanded from its commencement the Maxim Gun Company, which mainly by his untiring exertions, great tact, and popularity has been brought to its present state of efficiency.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency's obedient Servant,
His Excellency
THE GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG.
G. DIGBY BARKER,
Lieutenant-General.
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