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fog, there is no spot on the island whence an observer commands all the sea approaches; and when the usual points of observation are in the mist, the approach of ships would be telegraphed from D'Aguilar, and made known by scouts thrown out to Wong-ma- Kok from the Stanley Telephone Office. Our scouts on Mount Davis would telephone ships coming from the west.
23. Briefly described, that portion of the mainland which enters more closely into the Scheme of Defence, known as the Kowloon Peninsula, is a tangled network of disintegrated granite hillocks, scored by crevices and gullies. It is bounded on the north by a chain of hills studded with peaks, which spring from the main ridge to heights varying from 900 to 1,980 feet. This chain of hills runs for two-thirds of the way due west and east, and then sharply recurves for the remaining distance to the south. The western and eastern flanks rest on the sea, and it thus forms a barrier wall, affording many facilities for defence. Six passes give communication across this chain, of which particulars are given later.
24. The possession of this chain of hills and the passes leading over it is an essential factor of the defence of Hong Kong against an attack from the mainland, for the reason that hostile guns mounted on these hills would command the harbour and take some of the batteries in reverse. The probability of this danger is remote, owing to the great physical difficulties which the steep northern slopes of the hills present to the movement of troops and guns, while, on the other hand, the communications on the southern slopes are in course of construction and are constantly being improved. The defence consists of infantry and guns of the movable armament.
25. At Hong Kong, as elsewhere, the civil population is a factor affecting the defence. The estimated civil population on the 30th June, 1904, on the island of Hong Kong and on the mainland south of the Kowloon Hills was 361,206, of which 342,306 were Chinese. The population of the remainder of the Colony consists of about 90,000 Chinese. It is probable that a considerable proportion of the civil population would leave on the outbreak of hostilities.
26. The Naval Establishment, docks (except those at Aberdeen), and coal stores are within the defences, and the docks will be protected against torpedo boat attack by means of nets, &c., provided by the Dock Companies who will be warned to place the nets in front of their docks by the D.A.A. and Q.M.G.
27. All the magazines are reasonably safe so long as no enemy's ships are in the harbour. The Colonial makeshift powder magazine on Stonecutters Island is a source of danger, but the construction of a new magazine on Green Island will be completed in 1905.
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