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CHAPTER II (C).

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18

(C.)-Internal Communications.

(i.) Water Communications.

1. Steam-launches from A.S.C. 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.

(ii.) Road.

(a.) On the Island.

2. On the low level there is a road running round the island, passing, however, only the bases of the peninsulas. Between Victoria and Sau-ki-wan this is a well-made carriage road skirting the northern shore, and forms the chief thoroughfare of the island.

3. A service of electric trams on a double line, 3-ft. 6-in. gauge, which is available in war, runs from Causeway Bay to Kennedy Town, distance 4 miles 5 furlongs 76 chains, and a single line from Causeway Bay to Sau-ki-wan, 3 miles 6 furlongs and 5:59 chains. The time taken to run from Kennedy Town to Causeway Bay is about thirty-four minutes, and from Causeway Bay to Sau-ki-wan about thirty-five minutes. The rolling-stock of the Company consists of 36 cars, of which 26 accommodate 40 passengers and 10 accommodate 32.

Six of the cars are generally laid up for repairs. Thus, provided no baggage is taken and seating accommodation is not required for every man, 1,200 men could be transported from any point on the Company's system to any other at the same time.

Guns, except machine guns on tripod mountings, could not be carried.

4. Proceeding west from Victoria, this road continues viâ the east of Mount Davis, across the gap of that name to Aberdeen, whence a good 6 to 8-ft. road runs from Deepwater to Stanley, and, crossing Tytam Gap, passes the eastern slopes of Mount Parker and descends to Sau-ki-wan.

5. On the high level, communication is sufficiently good. There are eight gaps in the central main ridge. the

6. Beginning from the west, these gaps are:---

(1.) 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 Belchers portion of the Western Fire Command, and paths lead from it to the various batteries and infantry posts. The communication is supplemented by the road which encircles Mount Davis.

(2.) 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 Tramway Company's line, which has a carrying capacity of forty men in marching order for each journey, and is also available for transport of guns.

From this gap a good road leads to the Peak Signal Station, while another (Harlech Road) leads round the northern slopes of High West, whence paths lead to Pinewood and Victoria Batteries. An alternative means of communication with the Western Fire Command is that provided on High West.

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 Kellet and another descends to Aberdeen.

(3.) Magazine Gap (787 feet) and Wanchai Gap (700 feet) are within 300 yards of each other, and mark the junction of several roads.

(4.) 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 Deepwater Bay, proceeding still eastward the road from Wong-nei-Cheong Gap

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