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Speaking generally, the revision to January 1904 appears, on the whole, less satisfactory than that to June 1903. For this reason, and also because effect has not yet been given to their Remarks on the earlier Scheme, the Committee have decided not to print the revision to January 1904. They recommend that the 1903 Scheme should be taken as the basis for immediate further revision, and they suggest that the covering letters to former Schemes, and the Remarks of the Colonial Defence Com- mittee on the same, should be consulted in the course of this revision. It may be added that reprinting of the text and maps is expedited, and the introduction of clerical errors is avoided, by correcting a printed copy of the last Defence Scheme for trans- mission home. Copies printed on one side of the paper for this among those sent to the Colony.

purpose are included

4. The Colonial Defence Committee note, with much satisfaction, that the Acting Governor is of opinion (Appendix I, paragraphs 3 and 4, and Appendix II) that the Colonial Government may well undertake to provide the coolies required in connection with the Defence Scheme. Effect should now be given to the recommendation in paragraph 2 of their Remarks No. 340 R on the 1903 Defence Scheme, and the measures decided upon should be recorded in the portions of the Defence Scheme detailing the action to be taken by the various military and civil officers among whom responsibility for action on mobilization is to be apportioned.

5. The question of the refuge for European women and children in the event of Chinese disturbances (Appendix I, paragraph 5, and Enclosure, paragraph 7) formed the subject of paragraph 3 of the Committee's Remarks No. 282 R on the 1901 Defence Scheme, the matter being left to be decided by the Governor with the assistance of the General Officer Commanding.

Mr. May's proposal for the enrolment of special constables would appear to go far to meet the requirements of the case, which seem scarcely to necessitate the removal of the women and children to Macao (Enclosure, paragraph 7). The use of the red cross flag is not permissible in cases not covered by Article VI of the Geneva Convention (printed in the "Manual of Military Law"), and the word "evacuation" in that Article applies only to sick and wounded.

6. The remarks of the Acting Governor on the subject of the deportation of foreigners and Chinese (Appendix I, paragraph 7) are generally concurred in by the Colonial Defence Committee, who consider that the substance of his remarks as to the use to be made. of the Secret Order in Council in connection with this, and the labour, question might with advantage be embodied in Chapter VI of the Defence Scheme, in which there is already a reference to the Order in Council.

7. As regards the strength of the garrison of Hong Kong (Appendix I, para- graph 8, and Appendix III), the Colonial Defence Committee arc of opinion that the approved establishment of the garrison, in infantry and artillery, should always be maintained. They are not prepared to recommend an increase in establishment. The subject was fully dealt with in the Committee's Memorandum No. 264 M, dated 25th June, 1901, referred to in paragraph 5 of their Remarks No. 282 R on the 1901 Defence Scheme, and appears to call for no further recommendation from them.

8. The opinion of the General Officer Commanding, in which the Acting Governor concurs, that the provision of 150 mules is essential (Appendix I, para- graph 9, and Enclosure, paragraph 13) relates apparently to the scale of military transport to be maintained in time of peace. The subject of mule transport was alluded to incidentally in the Committee's Memorandum No. 286 M on a proposed mountain battery, but the data now before the Committee are insufficient to warrant any recommendation from them.

The other details for the defence mentioned in paragraph 13 of Major-General Hatton's letter do not call for any remark from the Committee.

9. Major-General Hatton's proposal that in the event of hostilities the General Officer Commanding should be supreme in the Colony (Appendix I, paragraph 10, and Enclosure, paragraph 15) is not concurred in by the Colonial Defence Committee. The duties of, and mutual relations between, the Governor of a Colony and the Officer Commanding the Troops are clearly and sufficiently defined in the King's Regulations for the Army and the Rules and Regulations for His Majesty's Colonial

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