Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 802

703

No. 1902

36

HONGKONG,

REPORT ON THE HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.

Laid before the Legislative Council by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government.

From the General Officer Commanding in China and Hongkong

to His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of Hongkong,

&C.,

&c.,

&c.

HEAD QUARTERS Office, HONGKONG, 29th May, 1902.

SIR,-I have the honour to forward the Commandant's Report on the Training of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps during the past year.

There has been a slight falling off in numbers since last year, but in all other respects I have been satisfied with the state of efficiency which has been maintained.

But during the past year the Corps has been practically without a Commanding Officer. It was known that one was to be appointed sooner or later, and although Major CHAPMAN took up the Command and acquitted himself to my satisfaction, yet he was only temporarily filling up a gap, and this is not the same thing as having a regular Commanding Officer.

Now, however, that Major PRITCHARD has taken the Command, I expect to see considerable improvement, and I have one or two schemes on foot by which the position and indeed the efficiency of the Corps will be in the future, I trust, greatly improved.

The inspection took place in wet weather, but so far as it went, was satisfactory.

I have the honour to be,

Sir, Your obedient Servant,

W. J. GASCOIGNE, Major-General, Commanding in China and Hongkong.

HONGKONG-REPORT OF THE HONGKONG

VOLUNTEER CORPS,

TRAINING SEASON, 1901-1902.

From the Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General (A) and Chief Staff Officer, China.

VOLUNTEER HEAD QUARTERS,

VICTORIA, HONGKONG, 13th May, 1902.

SIR, I have the honour to forward herewith the documents Gun Company. mentioned in the margin relating to the training, &c., of the

17

Do.

Do. Hongkong Volunteer Corps for the season 1901-1902, for the D" Infantry information of His Excellency the Major-General Commanding and "E" Engineer Acting Governor.

ך

2.

Do.

1. Nominal Roll of Efficients. Field Battery. "A Machine

91

3.

Do.

B

4.

Do.

*C"

5.

Do.

6.

Do.

ī.

Do.

Do.

Company.

Company.

Band.

8. Report on Gun Practice. Field Battery.

9.

10. Copy of Inspection State.

11. State of Corps. 1902.

12. Musketry Returns.

2. It will be seen from Enclosure No. 11, with the correspond- Field Batterying document for the training season 1900-1901, that the total Machine Gun strength of the Corps is now 318 of all ranks as against 366 of all Companies. ranks at the former date.

3. During the past season 5 members have died, 87 have resigned, 49 in Colony and 38 on leaving the Colony, 1 has been

discharged on Medical Certificate, 39 struck off as absent from the Colony without leave.

4. Eighty-four (84) new members have been enrolled.

5. The Staff, Field Battery, "A," "B" and "C" Machine Gun Companies, "D" Infantry Company, "E" Engineer Company, and the Band now number 6, 77, 56, 51, 43, 54, 25, 6, respectively, as compared with establishments of 7, 110, 41, 41, 41, 57, 30 and 24, respectively.