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CHAPTER II (C).

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(C.)—Communications.

(i.) By Road and Water.

1. The communications with the several Sections are both by land and water, except with Kowloon and Stonecutters, which are reached by water only.

2. By Water.

Steam-launches from Commissariat or Blake Piers reach Belchers in fifteen minutes, Stonecutters in thirty minutes, Kowloon in ten minutes, Kowloon Dock in fifteen minutes, and Lyemun in thirty minutes.

Launches from Kowloon reach Stonecutters in twenty minutes, Belchers in thirty minutes, and Lyemun in thirty minutes.

3. By Land.-(1.) On the Low Level the Sections in Hong Kong are connected by a road running round the island, passing, however, only the bases of the peninsulas. Between Victoria and Sai-ki-wan this is a well-made carriage road skirting the northern shore, and forms the chief thoroughfare of the island. A service of electric trams on a line 3-ft. 6-in. gauge, double in the city, which is available in war, runs between these two points. Proceeding west from Victoria, this road continues via the east of Mount Davis, across the gap of that name to Aberdeen, whence a good 6 to 8-ft. road runs by Deep Water Bay to Stanley, and, crossing the Tytam Gap, passes the eastern slopes of Mount Parker and descends to Sai-ki-wan.

(2.) On the High Level communication between the northern and southern sides of the island is effected by good but, in places, steeply-graded roads, which cross the eight gaps in the main central ridge referred to in Chapter I, paragraph 20.

Beginning from the west, these gaps are :—-

No. I (Western) Section.

Mount Davis Gap (385 feet). This is the only gap crossed by a carriage road. This road forms the main internal means of communication in the Belcher portion of the Western Section, and paths lead from it to the various batteries and infantry posts. The communication is supplemented by the road which encircles Mount Davis.

No. II (Central) Section.

Victoria Gap (1,250 feet). The main road from Victoria to the Peak crosses this gap, from which a good road descends to the Pokfulum Reservoir. The gap can also be

reached in eight minutes from Victoria by the Peak Cable Tramway, which has a carrying capacity of forty men in marching order for each journey, and is also available for transport of guns, in which it has been tested. From this gap a good road ascends to the Peak Signal Station, while another (Harlech Road) leads round the northern slope of High West, whence paths lead to Pinewood and Victoria Batteries. An alternative means of communication with No. I Section is thus provided on a high level. Lateral communication to the west is furnished by a well-graded concrete road leading to Magazine Gap viâ Plunkett's Gap. From Plunkett's Gap one road leads round Mount Kellett and another descends to Aberdeen.

Magazine Gap (787 feet) and Wanchai Gap (700 feet) are within 300 yards of each other, and mark the junction of several roads, which, ascending the northern slopes, here attain the central ridge, but do not descend the southern slopes.

Wong-nei-Cheong Gap (687 feet).From Wanchai Gap a 9-ft. road skirting Mount Cameron and Mount Nicholson prolongs the lateral communication to Wong-nei-Cheong Gap. Here a road, which starts from the Happy Valley, crosses the central ridge and descends the southern slopes, joining the main circular road at Little Hong Kong near Deep Water Bay. Proceeding still westward the road from Wong-nei-Cheong Gap passes over Stanley Gap, and thence descends by easy gradients to Tytam Reservoir, and thence to Tytam Tuk, where the main circular road is again met.

Quarry Gap (980 feet).-At Tytam Tuk the main lateral road is joined by a road which, starting from Quarry Bay, ascends the valley between Mount Butler and

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