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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office. December 1901.

CONFIDENTIAL.

No. 276 R.

HONG KONG.

Report on Volunteers, April 1901.

C.O. No. 30150.

Remarks by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE Colonial Office have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee a despatch of the Governor of Hong Kong, dated the 25th July, 1901, transmitting a letter of the General Officer Commanding, forwarding the Report of the Commandant on the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps for the season 1900-1901.

The despatch and its inclosures are printed as an Appendix to these Remarks.

2. During the year ending the 31st March, 1901, there was a further increase in the strength of the Hong Kong Volunteer Corps, the total number on that date being 366 of all ranks as against 311, 181, 176, 159, and 125 at the corresponding periods of the five preceding years. The field battery, with an establishment of 110, was 95 strong. The three machine gun companies, with an establishment of 123, had 43 beyond this number. The infantry company and engineer company, with establish- ments of 57 and 30 respectively, had 57 and 31 effective.

The

The Commandant (paragraph 5) seems to be of opinion that the present numbers will be maintained in spite of the "abatement of the war fever." General Officer Commanding considers that the present strength is highly creditable to the Colony, and need not be increased. In this opinion the Colonial Defence Committee concur, but they have made a suggestion as to reserve arms for an increased war establishment in paragraph 5 below.

3. Major-General Gascoigne reports a marked improvement in steadiness on parade and in drill. The usual camp of instruction took place at Kowloon and lasted eight days, but the instruction during the week did not on this occasion include participation in manoeuvres with the Regular troops. On three subsequent occasions, however, as the Committee learn from the annual report of the General Officer Com- manding on the tactical exercises for the winter 1900-1901 (W.O. No. 61061/4889), arrangements were made by the General Officer Commanding to allow of the Hong On two occasions the Kong Volunteer Corps taking part in these exercises. manœuvres were prevented by unfavourable weather, but on the third, Major-General Gascoigne considered that useful lessons were learnt.

4. Gun practice was carried out from the 2.5-inch R.M.L. guns on two occasions, and practice from the Maxim guns on six days. There was no musketry practice during the year, and this is the least satisfactory feature disclosed by the present report. The prize-firing, which is generously supported by the Governor and residents, cannot take the place of regular military training, and it is very desirable that regular musketry practice should take place annually.

[894]

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