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from the magazine, and they recommend that the War Office should call for a full report on the subject from the General Officer Commanding.

3. Page 1, paragraph 3, page 2, and page 5, paragraph 9. Management of civil popu- lation. Commenting on the paragraph so headed on page 79 of the 1900 Defence Scheme, the Colonial Defence Committee remarked that "it seems desirable that a scheme should be worked out for providing a place of refuge for the accommodation of women and children in the event of war with China, or of a Chinese insurrection in the Colony."

This suggestion has brought to light some difference of opinion between the local civil and military authorities as to the best means of providing for the safety of the non-combatant white residents in the event of a rising of the Chinese population. The Governor and the General Officer Commanding are, however, at one in considering that a Chinese insurrection on a large scale is improbable. It may, apparently, be assumed that the main object of the proposed place of refuge is to obviate the possi- bility of such individual cases of outrage by Chinese mobs as might occur at times of great excitement if the white population remained scattered throughout the Colony. If this is the case, it seems to follow that the place of refuge need not be capable of sustaining a determined attack by well-armed enemies, and will not require a special military (as distinguished from police) guard, but it should be so situated as to be easily isolated when necessary, and yet be readily accessible in the event of sudden excitement arising-for example, on the occasion of a naval raid on the port. The occupation of the place of refuge is more likely to be a temporary precaution than a permanent arrangement.

For such a purpose, Mount Austin Barracks would seem not unsuitable. The method of provisioning the inmates is a matter for consideration by the civil autho- rities, but seems to present no insuperable difficulties. A few piquets of armed police would deny access to the neighbourhood of the barracks, and cover the withdrawal of the white non-combatants from the town to Mount Austin, and no modification in the present disposition of the garrison seems necessary.

Stonecutters Island might conceivably be useful in some circumstances, but it is under the disadvantage of not being readily accessible in the event of sudden alarm. As regards the third proposal, viz., to accommodate the refugees on passenger steamers, the Committee are inclined to agree with the Governor that it would not be safe to count upon securing sufficient suitable shipping in the harbour to provide the large amount of accommodation required.

With these observations, the Colonial Defence Committee leave the matter to be decided by the Governor, who would be responsible for the safety of the civil population in time of war, and who, with the assistance of the General Officer Commanding, will, they trust, be able to decide on some scheme which will secure the desired object without being open to military objections. The detailed arrange- ments should be recorded in Chapter VI of the Defence Scheme under the headings of the civil officials responsible for carrying them out.

4. Page 1, paragraph 4, and page 6, paragraph 12. Road communications on mainland. The Colonial Defence Committee attach great importance to the improve- ment of the roads and tracks in the new territory which provide communication with the defensive positions on the ridge north of Kowloon.

Covering Letter of General Officer Commanding.

5. Page 3, paragraphs 2 and 4. Strength of garrison.-Major-General Sir W. J. Gascoigne's letter, dated the 29th March, 1901, was referred by the War Office to the Colonial Defence Committee, and was fully dealt with in their Memorandum, No. 264 M, dated the 25th June, 1901, on the strength of garrison, copies of which have been communicated to the Governor and General Officer Commanding. The Committee's anticipation that the ground immediately north of Kowloon would prove to be entirely in favour of the defence is borne out by an examination of the survey and Defence Scheme now before them, and they have nothing to add to their previous recommendation. They are dealing with the question of the proposed mountain battery in a separate Memorandum, No. 286 M.

The next revision of the Defence Scheme should be based on the approved war

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