CAB11-57-17 — Page 15

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CHAPTER I (B) and (C).

10

5

It was also observed during the same period that fogs occurred at the sea level for a mean of 37 days in a year as follows:-

January

February

March

April May

June

---

for 3 days.

""

"7

22

2 1 day.

July August..

September

October November December

for 1 day.

4 days. 3

"

""

22

I day.

1

"

"2

""

3 days.

It is not thought, however, that their influence would be wholly against the defence. In fogs, as at night, men who know the ground will be less hampered by the dim light than strangers; and in no case can the fog be put forward as a reason for frittering the defence into patches and groups, but rather serves as an argument for keeping companies as intact as possible. If fogs envelop the positions of defence, its formed bodies and outposts must descend below their normal positions. As for an enemy's ships approaching without being observed from the high ground on account of fogs, 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 Mount Davis, and made known by scouts thrown out from Wong-ma-Kok from the Stanley Telephone Office.

11. 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. Eleven passes give communication across this chain, of which particulars are given later (see page 19).

12. The possession of this chain of bills 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. The main line of the hills has been much strengthened by a series of blockhouses.

13. At Hong Kong, as elsewhere, the civil population is a factor affecting the defence. The estimated civil population on the 30th June, 1907, on the Island of Hong Kong and on the mainland south of the Kowloon Hills was 323,290, of which 310,580 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.

14. The naval and other dockyards (except those at Aberdeen), and coal stores are within the defence.

15. All the magazines are reasonably safe.

(C.)-External Communications.

1. There are two lines of cable communication between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong which are all British except for the Egyptian land lines which form part of one which runs by the Eastern Telegraph Company's cable from Porthcurnow to Gibraltar, Malta, Alexandria, Suez, Perim, Aden, Bombay; thence by Indian Govern- ment land lines to Madras, and onwards by the Eastern Extension Telegraph Company's two cables to Penang and Singapore, and by its one cable to Labuan and Hong Kong.

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