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6-inch guns, Mark VII, should be emplaced in Stonecutter West Battery to cover the former channel, and that 2-6-inch guns, Mark VII, should be emplaced at Albion Battery in place of the existing 12-pr. Q.F. guns for the protection of the North Stonecutter's Channel. The Colonial Defence Committee agree that by this arrangement an adequate measure of protection for these channels would be provided. This disposition is, how- ever, in some respects, open to objection, as, owing to the distance between Stonecutter West and Albion Batteries, difficulties of control and communication are involved. It is therefore suggested that the possibility of concentrating the defences for both channels at Stonecutter West should be given full consideration. If the conformation of the ground wo Hong Kong's admits of the arrangement, 4-6-inch guns sited at Stonecutter West Battery, and so 129. emplaced that three of the guns would be able to bear upon the approaches to the Centre Channel and three on the approaches to the North Stonecutter's Channel, would provide an adequate measure of defence at considerably lower cost than would be. entailed by the proposals of Sir John Owen's Committee. Before a decision can be arrived at as to the relative merits of these alternative arrangements the opinion of the local authorities, based on a close study of the ground, must first be obtained.

T

Reductions.

Electric Lights.

7. The two 4.7-inch Q.F. guns in Stonecutter East Battery are superfluous, but may be retained for drill and practice purposes if the local authorities consider it desirable.

The following guns will ultimately become superfluous, when the additions recommended have been carried out, but should be retained for the present pending the completion of the new batteries :--

2-10-inch, B.L., at Stonecutter West Battery. 1-10-inch, B.L., at Stonecutter Central Battery. 1-10-inch, B.L., at Belcher's Point Upper Battery. 1--10-inch, B.L., at Fly Point.

1-9.2 inch, Mark IV, at Kowloon East Battery. 1-9-2-inch, Mark IV, at Victoria Battery.

2-6-inch, Mark VII, at Saiwan Battery.

2-6-inch, Mark VII, at Gough Battery.

2-6-inch, Mark VII, at Kowloon West Battery.

1-6-inch, Mark VII, Stonecutter Central Battery.

2-6-inch, Mark VII, at Pinewood Battery.

4-12-pr., Q.F., at Pak-sha-wan Battery.

2-12-pr., Q.F., at Albion Battery.

1-12-pr., Q.F., at Belcher's Point Upper Battery.

The following guns, covering the inner waters, are superfluous, and should be removed at once :-

2-6-inch, Mark VI, Lyemun Redoubt.

2--6-inch, Mark VII, North Point Battery (not yet mounted).

2-12-pr., Q.F., Centurion Battery.

2--12-pr., Q.F., Stonecutter South Shore Battery.

2-12-pr., Q.F., Elliott Battery.

1--6-pr., Lyemun Reverse Battery.

2-6-pr., Lyemun West Battery.

8. Concentrated movable beams will be required as fighting lights for use in connection with the 6-inch guns provided for defence against night attack.

(a.) Eastern Entrance. For use in connection with the 6-inch guns to be mounted at Pak-sha-wan, three lights are required. Three of the existing fixed and dispersed beams should be converted into concentrated movable beams. One light in addition should be retained as a spare light, and the existing spare light should be removed.

(b.) Western Entrance. For the Main Channel, three concentrated movable beams will be required at Belcher's Point. Owing to the complete destruction of the electric light emplacements at Belcher's Point by the typhoon, new emplacements will have to be constructed there.

Concentrated movable beams will also be required as fighting lights for the 6-inch guns on Stonecutter's Island; but their numbers and sites depend on the decision that may be arrived at as to the distribution of the armament on that island, and should be determined by the local military authorities after trial.

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Easter

Weste:

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