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They consider, however, that in the present political situation, the liability to such attack is so remote that the provision of special defences to meet this danger is unnecessary. They recognize, however, that changes in the strategic situation in the Far East may take place in the future, which may render necessary the provision of special defences at Hong Kong to meet attack by torpedo craft. Until such time as provision has been made to meet an attack of this nature, His Majesty's ships in Hong Kong harbour will, when necessary, make arrangements for their own protection against torpedo attack.

Defence of Western Entrance of Harbour.

7. The provision of adequate defence for the shipping lying in the western portion of the harbour is a problem of considerable difficulty, and the necessity for providing such defence has increased of recent years with the growing trade of the port and the changes in the strategic situation.

The question of the defence of the western entrance to Hong Kong harbour has been the subject of much correspondence, and various proposals have been made from time to time in regard to it.

A proposal made about 1880 to build a fort on Kellet's Bank was rejected on account of the enormous cost of such a structure.

In 1882, the Royal Commission on the Defence of British Possessions and Commerce abroad recommended that the fixed defences at the western entrance to the harbour should be supplemented by a system of submarine mine defences and by local naval defences, consisting of two gun-boats and four torpedo-boats. The submarine mine defences were provided, but the Admiralty, in accordance with their declared policy of retaining absolute power of disposing their forces in the manner most certain to secure success, declined to allot gunboats and torpedo craft permanently to the defence of Hong Kong.

In 1886, Lieutenant-Colonel C. H. Ellis, R.A., and Lieutenant-Colonel G. Barker, R.E., in reporting upon the defences of Hong Kong, called attention to the vital importance of permanently closing a portion of the western entrance to the harbour. They recommended that an obstruction consisting of a line of piles with their tops showing above water should be erected on Kellet's Bank. This proposal was con- sidered by the Colonial Defence Committee, who were of opinion that it was unsuitable in several respects, and recommended that the possibility of blocking a portion of the channel with junks laden with stones should be thoroughly considered locally.

An experiment with junks laden with stones was accordingly made in 1890, but proved a failure.

In a letter dated the 25th February, 1901, Vice-Admiral Sir Edward Seymour called attention to the desirability of closing the entrance to the harbour. He suggested the construction of a boom formed of a series of junks or other craft moored across the entrance with booms, hawsers, or other obstacles between them. The Colonial Defence Committee, however, pointed out the impracticability of maintaining obstructions, other than permanent breakwaters, effectively to close the entrances to harbours against torpedo craft, unless the entrances were narrow, and the booms under effective fire, and illuminated by electric lights.

As regards Sir Matthew Nathan's proposal for the construction of a breakwater on Kellet's Bank, the Colonial Defence Committee have not sufficient information at their disposal to enable them to express an opinion in regard to it. They would observe, however, that in view of its exposure to typhoons, such a breakwater would have to be very substantially constructed, and would therefore be costly. At the same time it may be admitted that any measures which may be taken to reduce the width of the main western entrance between Green Island and Stonecutter's Island would tend to simplify the difficult problem of how effectually to deny this entrance to torpedo craft--a problem which it may be necessary to solve in the near future.

In accordance with the recommendation contained in the Colonial Defence Committee's Memorandum No. 388 M, dated the 7th March, 1907, on the revision of the fixed defences of Hong Kong, provision will in future be made under the Defence Scheme for the armament at the western entrance to be supplemented by floating defence, under arrangements drawn up by the Naval Commander-in-Chief. By this measure the safety of the shipping lying in the harbour will, it is thought, under existing conditions, be adequately provided for.

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