CAB11-57-15 — Page 27

Page 27

Page 27

CHAPTER II (C).

23

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.

(5.) 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 Mount Parker, crossing Quarry Gap, and ascends to Tytam Tuk. This gap can also be reached by Messrs. Butterfield and Swire's overhead tramway from Quarry Bay.

It will be seen from the above that good lateral communication in the section is secured by one continuous road at an average elevation of about 850 feet.

(6.) Tytam Gap (600 feet). The road which crosses this gap has already been described as forming part of the main circular road.

7. Other internal communications are :—

(a.) A path from Tytam Gap viâ Pottinger Gap to Shiako and Cape d'Aguilar

(port war signal station).

(b.) A concrete road (12-ft.) connecting Lyemun and Saiwan Hill.

(c.) A path from Saiwan Hill to Cape Collinson (look-out post).

(d.) A concrete road connects Pottinger and Gough Batteries with the shore.

(b.) On the Mainland.

8. On the mainland there are three broad metalled roads, suitable for the free movement of all arms, one running from Kowloon through Hung-Hom and Kowloon City to a point about 1 mile west of Customs Pass; the second, known as the Frontier Road, emanating from the same starting point, runs through Yaumati over the Kowloon Hills to Tai-po-hu (18 miles); while the third runs from Yaumati, through the centre of the Kowloon Peninsula, and joins the Kowloon-Kowloon City road at the latter place.

9. A cart road, used in making the new railway, runs from Tai-po-hu to the frontier at Lo-fu Ferry. The permanent way of the railway, too, though broken in places for bridging, is available and suitable for moving infantry almost the whole way from the tunnel north-west of Beacon Hill to Lo-fu Ferry.

10. Eleven passes cross the Kowloon Hills, named respectively, from east to west- (1.) Lantong (450 feet). Between Black Hill and Ghin-lan-chu, an unpaved track. (2.) Customs Pass (780 feet). Good cart road to within a mile of the top. (3.) Tates Pass (1,800 feet). Chinese track. (4.) Grasscutters Pass (1,323 (5.) Shatin Pass (963 feet). (6.) Garter Pass (1,269 feet). (7.) Kowloon Pass (1,036 feet). as far as the top of this place.

feet). Chinese track. Very steep Chinese paved road.

Chinese track.

A good 4-foot mile road leads up from the south

Chinese unpaved track.

(8.) Railway Pass (1,000 feet). (9.) Beacon Hill Pass (1,280 feet). (10.) Pipers Pass, between Pipers unpaved track.

Chinese unpaved track.

Hill and Eagle's Nest (550 feet).

Chinese

(11.) Lai-chi-kok Pass (480 feet). Crossed by the Frontier Road, 14 feet wide, with an easy gradient.

11. With the exception of the Lai-chi-kok Pass and Customs Pass road, which are suitable for the passage of all arms, the above passes are all narrow pathways, suitable only for the movement of infantry in file or single file, and of light mountain guns capable of being carried by coolies or on mules. They are chiefly used by grasscutters and villagers journeying to Hong Kong from the villages on the far sides of the Kowloon Hills.

12. Roads to the gun positions on Chin-lan-Chun and Tate's Cairn are constructed, They are shown on the map. A patrol path following the ridge from Eagle's Nest to Customs Pass on the south side connects the various posts. On the far side of the Kowloon Hills the native Chinese paths leading from Hebe Haven, Tide Cove, Tai-po-hu, viâ Smugglers' Pass, Tsun Wan, &c., all emerge eventually into one or other of the passes mentioned above, and are the only avenues of approach for an enemy attacking the mainland.

Page 27

19

Page 27

Page 27