CAB11-57-15 — Page 11

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HONG KONG.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL REVIEW OF SITUATION.

CHAPTER I (A),

8

(A.)—Introductory Remarks and Strategic Considerations.

HONG KONG is the 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 the shortest navigable distances :—

Sea miles.

Weihaiwei

1,175

Chemulpo

Singapore Labuan Nagasaki..

1,450

Shanghai

1,060

Canton

1,050

Whampoa

Yokohama

1,560

Macao

Formosa ..

350

Port Courbet

Pescadores (Makung)

317

Hué

Port Arthur

1,250

Hanoi

Vladivostock

1,650

Saigon

Kiao-chau

1,130

Manila

Sea miles

1,190

810

80

70

35

460

500

540

930

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.

(a.) The peace strength of the garrison of French Indo-China is now 35,000 men,

of whom 16,000 are Europeans.

In the event of war, at least 16,000 native reservists and 11,000 "gardes indigènes" would be available, besides some 8,000 or 9,000 able-bodied Europeans who have had a military training.

The personnel of the native troops is indifferent; there is, moreover, a spirit of discontent and unrest among them, so the military position is far from

secure.

The nearest French fortified base to Hong Kong is Port Courbet, 460 miles

distant.

The French in Indo-China have their hands full in the management of their own colonies, moreover the entente cordiale makes it unlikely that they can be considered as potential enemies in the near future.

(b.) The establishment of German troops in China is, at present, about 3,000 men, including the garrison of Tsing-tau. There are also about 400 reservists, who can be called out when required.

There is a fine harbour at Tsing-tau and a floating dock with a carrying

capacity of 16,000 tons.

The opening of the Panama Canal will make the German possession of Samoa

of more strategic importance than it is at present.

(c.) The war of 1904-5 and the extension of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance to August 1915 has completely altered the political situation in the Far East. It has left Russia without a navy, and although she has large masses of troops east of Lake Baikal and a line of railway from Russia to the Pacific, yet she cannot for many years to come be considered as a potential enemy as far as Hong Kong is concerned.

[835]

B

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