CAB11-57-1 — Page 302

Page 302

40

Page 302

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

SECRET.

No. 388 M.

Printed for the use of the Colonial Office.

HONG KONG.

1 186

W.O. No. 57/Hong Kong/1206.

Revision of Fixed Defences.

Memorandum by the Colonial Defence Committee.

THE War Office have referred to the Colonial Defence Committee Advanced Report No. IX on the defences of Hong Kong, by General Sir J. F. Owen's Committee on the Revision of Armaments at Colonial Ports in Imperial charge.

The Report is printed as an Appendix to this Memorandum.

The recommendations of the Colonial Defence Committee are based on the principles explained in their Memorandum No. 376 M on the general principles governing the standard of fixed defences at Colonial ports.

2. Hong Kong is a commercial port of the highest importance, and is also the Reasons for principal naval base of His Majesty's ships on the China Station.

The enemy's main objectives in case of attack would be the damage or destruction of His Majesty's ships, in harbour or in dock, the naval dockyard, and the commercial docks. A secondary objective would be the destruction of the mercantile shipping lying in the harbour.

The nearest foreign naval bases are-

Manila Saigon

Kiao-Chau

Nagasaki

Distance. 630 miles. 910 1,080 1,070 ""

"

"1

Defences.

Vladivostock

1,660

19

3. For the purposes of determining the standard of fixed defences the Admiralty Scale of consider that Hong Kong should be regarded as liable to Class (A) attack by battleships. Attack.

Attacks by night by vessels of small fighting value on the mercantile shipping lying in port are also regarded as reasonably probable.

Owing to the distance of the nearest foreign torpedo flotilla bases, attack by sea- going torpedo craft need not at present be provided against.

4. The island of Hong Kong lies to the south of an indented peninsula, and is Topo- separated from the mainland by a deep channel which forms the harbour and roadstead. graphical

The harbour is about eight miles long from east to west, and is divided into three and Hydro-

graphical main portions by the peninsula of Kowloon. These are the western portion lying west Conditions. of Kowloon, the central portion between Kowloon and the island of Hong Kong, and the eastern portion to the east of Kowloon peninsula. The western portion is the principal commercial harbour. Along its shores on the mainland and on the island docks and important factories are situated. Nearly the whole of the water area in this portion is allotted to permanent moorings for mercantile ships.

In the central portion of the harbour a large area of water is reserved for permanent moorings for His Majesty's ships. The naval dockyard and military

[921]

B

Page 302

Page 302

Page 302