CAB11-57-11 — Page 7

Page 7

Page 7

HONG KONG.

CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AND STRATEGIC CONSIDERATIONS.

Strategic Conditions.

HONG KONG is the naval base and headquarters of His Majesty's ships on the China Station, and the most important British commercial port abroad. Its geographical situation in reference to other ports in the Far East is shown by the following table of shortest navigable distances :-

Weihaiwei

Singapore

Labuan

Vladivostock

Port Arthur

Nagasaki..

Yokohama

Formosa ..

Pescadores (Makung)

Kiao-chau

Sea miles.

1,170

Chemulpo

1,440

Shanghai..

1,080

Canton

1,560

Whampoa

1,250

Macao

1,070

Port Courbet

1,560

Hué

350

Hanoi

317

Saigon

1,080

Manila

Sea miles.

1,170

810

74

64

40

460

500

540

910

630

2. Before considering the strategic conditions which govern the functions and strength of the garrison and fixed defences of Hong Kong, it may be useful to enumerate the military forces and defended ports of foreign powers in the Far East.

3. The French garrison of Indo-China, which is widely scattered over an extensive area, consists in round numbers of 14,000 Europeans and 19,000 natives. The native troops are composed of indifferent personnel,and are universally considered very inefficient. The military position is still considered somewhat precarious, disturbances of a more or less serious nature constantly arising, and it is doubtful whether, under any circum- stances, France could put in the field for offensive purposes more than 3,000 to 5,000 troops with four mountain batteries. The nearest fortified French base to Hong Kong is Port Courbet, 460 miles distant.

4. Japan could send 240,000 men over sea in the event of a general mobilization of her forces, provided that she had sea command, and that efficient transport were available. Nagasaki is 1,070 miles from Hong Kong, whilst the new advanced base, Formosa, is but 350 miles, and Makung in the Pescadores, where she is forming a naval port, only 317 miles distant.

5. Russia has in the Far East (i.e., east of Lake Baikal) a peace strength of about 80,000 men, which is brought up in war to 115,000 men. Of the 80,000 about one- half are at present stationed in Manchuria and the Liaotung Peninsula, the normal garrison of Port Arthur being about 14,000 men. The Russian base, Vladivostock, is 1,560 miles from Hong Kong; but the acquisition by Russia of Port Arthur, a fortified ice-free port, at the extremity of the Liaotung peninsula, has brought her within 1,250 miles of Hong Kong. In passing out of the Gulf of Pechili, her ships would have to pass the British flying naval base of Weihaiwei. The Siberian railway is now completed,

[1306]

B

MO

Page 7

6

Page 7

Page 7