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24. Page 6, paragraph 26.-It might be well to allot the responsibility of warning the Dock Companies to place the nets in front of their docks to one of the officers whose duties are recorded in Chapter III. The same officer might see that the arrangements of the Dock Companies are complete in time of peace.

25. Page 7, Table A (ii).—The machine guns are incorrectly shown in this table. The nine guns on cone mountings, of which seven are in various works and two are held in reserve, are armament guns and not for "general defence," under which heading only the six guns on parapet carriages and eighteen of those on tripod mountings should be shown. The remaining six on tripod mountings and the twelve on field carriages should be entered opposite a new heading, "equipment of units."

Chapter II.—Organization.

26. Page 24, paragraph 3.—It is suggested that the number of electric trams and their capacity for moving troops and guns should be inserted.

27. Page 25, paragraph 4.-The Committee are informed that the remaining funds required for constructing and improving the tactical roads in the Kowloon Hills have now been granted.

28. Page 31, paragraph 11.-No reference can be traced in other parts of the Scheme to any arrangements for the provision of the "armed river boats," which it is here proposed should form part of the force operating against a Chinese attack.

It is not likely that the Chinese would make a serious attack on the Colony unless with a large force amounting probably to some 10,000 men. Against such a force it seems doubtful whether the offensive operations here outlined would prove as effective as a defence of the passes over the range of hills which is described in paragraph 6 on page 29.

Chapter III.-Action by Staff and Departments.

29. Page 33.-The arrangements for the performance of staff duties in Chapter III will need detailed revision in accordance with the latest instructions in the King's Regulations for the Army.

No mention is made in Chapter III of arrangements for the reception, examination, and disposal of prisoners. The question whether a Provost-Marshal will be required in war might receive local consideration.

30. Page 33, paragraph 2 (5).—All reference to submarine minefields, here and elsewhere in the Scheme, should be omitted at the next revision.

31. Page 41, paragraph (i) 7.—It would be as well if a corresponding instruction to the Harbour Master were entered in Chapter VI (i) (4) “Action by Harbour Master."

32. Page 49. Chapter III (E) will require considerable modifications, in conse- quence of the withdrawal of the submarine mines and changes in the establishment of Royal Engineers.

33. Page 59, paragraph (10).—This detail of quartering should apparently have been superseded by that on page 63, which is in accordance with Table E (v), while the detail on this page is in some instances incorrect.

34. Page 69, Table E (viii).-In view of the statement in Chapter I, paragraph 9, that Hong Kong is not provided with defence against torpedo boat attack, the words quick-firing should be substituted for anti-torpedo in the title of this table.

35. Page 103 (K), and page 123 (3).-Attention is directed to paragraph 20 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 340 R on the 1903 Defence Scheme.

The arrangement approved by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury is that the military and civil authorities shall make disbursements for the services administered

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